In short
- QMB pays Part A and Part B premiums plus Medicare deductibles and coinsurance; SLMB and QI pay the Part B premium.
- Nebraska's 2026 monthly income limits for one person are $1,330 (QMB), $1,596 (SLMB) and $1,796 (QI); resources must be under $9,950 ($14,910 for a couple).
- Getting any of these programs also qualifies you for Extra Help with Part D and removes any Part B late enrollment penalty.
- Apply through iServe Nebraska online or by calling Nebraska DHHS at (855) 632-7633. Apply even if you are not sure you qualify.
- 2027 limits are not announced yet. They follow the federal poverty guidelines, usually published in January.
Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) use state and federal Medicaid dollars to pay Medicare costs for people with limited income and savings. In Nebraska, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) runs them. At minimum, they pay your Part B premium, $202.90 a month in 2026, which is $2,434.80 a year back in your pocket. The most generous one also covers your Medicare deductibles and coinsurance.
The three most people use are QMB, SLMB and QI. Here is what each pays, the 2026 limits, and how to apply.
What do Nebraska's Medicare Savings Programs pay?
Each program covers a different set of costs, according to Medicare & You 2027 and Medicare.gov.
| Program | Full name | What it pays |
|---|---|---|
| QMB | Qualified Medicare Beneficiary | Part A premium (if you owe one), Part B premium, and Medicare deductibles, coinsurance and copays |
| SLMB | Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary | Part B premium |
| QI | Qualifying Individual | Part B premium (only if you get no other Medicaid) |
| QDWI | Qualified Disabled and Working Individual | Part A premium, for certain people with disabilities who returned to work and lost Part A without a premium |
Two more things come with any of the first three:
- Extra Help with Part D, automatically. If you qualify for QMB, SLMB or QI, you also qualify for Extra Help. In 2026 that means paying no more than $12.65 per covered drug, and $14.40 in 2027. See Extra Help.
- No Part B late penalty. Medicare.gov says enrolling in a Medicare Savings Program removes the Part B late enrollment penalty.
What are the 2026 income and resource limits in Nebraska?
These are Nebraska DHHS's 2026 monthly figures, effective January 1, 2026, from its income standards chart revised May 8, 2026.
| Program | Income limit, 1 person | Income limit, couple | Resource limit, 1 person | Resource limit, couple |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QMB (100% FPL) | $1,330 | $1,804 | $9,950 | $14,910 |
| SLMB (120% FPL) | $1,596 | $2,164 | $9,950 | $14,910 |
| QI (135% FPL) | $1,796 | $2,435 | $9,950 | $14,910 |
FPL means the federal poverty level. You may see slightly higher numbers on Medicare.gov ($1,350, $1,616 and $1,816 for one person). The difference appears to be the $20 general income exclusion, a standard $20 that comes off your countable income, which the federal table builds in. So if your income is within $20 above the DHHS figure, you may still qualify. Nebraska DHHS makes the final decision.
Nebraska DHHS decides what counts as income and resources. Medicare & You 2027 gives simple advice: "Even if you don't think you qualify, you should still apply."
How much could a Medicare Savings Program save you?
Worked example. A widow in Grand Island, 72, gets $1,550 a month from Social Security before deductions and has $6,000 in savings. Subtracting the $20 income exclusion, her countable income is about $1,530. That is over the QMB limit ($1,330) but under the SLMB limit ($1,596), and her savings are under $9,950. DHHS makes the final decision, but if approved:
| Help | 2026 value |
|---|---|
| Part B premium paid by the state | $202.90 a month, $2,434.80 a year |
| Extra Help with Part D | Drug copays capped at $12.65 per covered drug, plus help with premiums and deductibles |
| Part B penalty, if she had one | Removed |
If her income were under $1,330 and she qualified for QMB, the program would also cover her $283 Part B deductible, her 20% Part B coinsurance and the $1,736 Part A hospital deductible in 2026.
Just above these limits is a hard spot. Someone single with $1,900 a month does not qualify for an MSP in 2026, but may still qualify for Extra Help, whose 2026 income limit is $23,940 a year for one person.
How do you apply in Nebraska?
You apply with Nebraska DHHS, the same agency that handles Nebraska Medicaid. Bill Jurey does not enroll people in Medicaid or Medicare Savings Programs. Your options:
- Online: iServe Nebraska, which DHHS describes as the portal replacing ACCESSNebraska, at iserve.nebraska.gov
- By phone: (855) 632-7633 statewide, (402) 473-7000 in Lincoln, or (402) 595-1178 in Omaha; TTY (402) 471-7256. Live service runs 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- By mail: P.O. Box 2992, Omaha, NE 68103-2992
Have these ready: your Medicare card, proof of income (Social Security award letter, pension statements), recent bank statements, and information on other assets like stocks, bonds or IRAs.
When does coverage start?
It depends on the program, per Nebraska DHHS:
- QMB starts the first day of the month after your eligibility is processed. There is no retroactive QMB coverage. If DHHS approves you on August 15, coverage starts September 1.
- QI can be retroactive up to 3 months before you applied, as long as you met the rules in those months and the retroactive period does not go back before January 1 of that year. You cannot be on any other Nebraska Medicaid category while on QI.
Because QMB is never retroactive, applying sooner is better.
What should you do after you are approved?
- Watch your Social Security payment. Once the state starts paying your Part B premium, it should stop coming out of your check.
- If you have QMB, show both cards (Medicare and Medicaid or QMB) at every appointment. Providers are not allowed to bill you for Medicare deductibles, coinsurance or copays, and you have a right to a refund if you already paid. If a provider keeps billing, call 1-800-MEDICARE.
- Review your drug plan. With Extra Help, you can change Part D plans once a month through a Special Enrollment Period.
- Ask about plans for dual eligibles. Some people with both Medicare and Medicaid qualify for Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans. For how the two programs fit together, see Medicare vs Medicaid in Nebraska.
CMS data show 43,941 Nebraskans had both Medicare and Medicaid in June 2026.
Where can you get help?
For unbiased help understanding these programs, call Nebraska SHIP (formerly SHIIP) at 1-800-234-7119; see Nebraska SHIP and local help. For Medicare questions, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (TTY 1-877-486-2048). If you are approved and want help with your Medicare plan choices, or want to understand how the premium savings change your Part B costs, talk to Bill.
Frequently asked questions
All three are Medicare Savings Programs run by Nebraska DHHS. QMB, for incomes up to 100% of the federal poverty level, pays Part A and Part B premiums and Medicare deductibles and coinsurance. SLMB, up to 120%, pays the Part B premium only. QI, from 120% up to 135%, also pays the Part B premium, but you cannot be on any other Nebraska Medicaid category at the same time.
The gap is most likely the $20 general income exclusion. Nebraska DHHS lists the program standard at 100% of the federal poverty level, $1,330 a month for one person in 2026. The federal table appears to build in that $20, which produces $1,350, and the same $20 gap shows up for SLMB ($1,596 vs $1,616) and QI ($1,796 vs $1,816). Nebraska DHHS decides eligibility, so apply if you are close to either figure.
Yes. Medicare.gov says you will not have to pay a Part B late enrollment penalty if you enroll in a Medicare Savings Program. Since the state pays your Part B premium, any penalty that would have been added is no longer your cost. This can matter a lot for someone who signed up for Part B years late.
No, not for Medicare-covered services. Medicare & You 2027 says providers are not allowed to bill people in the QMB program for Medicare deductibles, coinsurance or copayments. Show both your Medicare card and your Medicaid or QMB card at every visit. If you are billed anyway, tell the provider you are in QMB, and call 1-800-MEDICARE if the billing does not stop.
According to Nebraska DHHS, QMB coverage starts the first day of the month after your eligibility is processed, and there is no retroactive QMB coverage. For example, if DHHS finds you eligible on August 15, payment of premiums, deductibles and coinsurance starts September 1. QI can be retroactive up to 3 months before you apply, but not earlier than January 1 of that year.
Bill does not enroll people in Medicaid or Medicare Savings Programs. Applications go to Nebraska DHHS through iServe Nebraska, by phone at (855) 632-7633, or by mail. Nebraska SHIP can help you understand the programs at no cost. Once you are approved, Bill can explain how the help works with your Medicare and review Medicare plan options for people who have both Medicare and Medicaid.
Sources
- Nebraska DHHS 477-000-012: Income levels, federal poverty levels and resources (rev. May 8, 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- Medicare.gov: Medicare Savings Programs (opens in a new tab)
- SSA POMS HI 00815.023: Medicare Savings Programs income and resource limits (opens in a new tab)
- Medicare & You 2027 handbook (CMS Product 10050), pages 95 to 96 (opens in a new tab)
- iServe Nebraska: Apply for benefits (opens in a new tab)
- Nebraska DHHS: ACCESSNebraska and iServe (opens in a new tab)
- Medicare.gov: Avoid late enrollment penalties (opens in a new tab)
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.
