Medicare Savings Programs in Florida: Help Paying Your Part B Premium (2026)

If your Social Security check feels smaller every year, it is not your imagination — Medicare takes its premium out before the money reaches you. In 2026 the standard Part B premium is $185.00 a month, or $2,220 a year. What most seniors do not know is that a Medicare Savings Program in Florida can pay that premium for them entirely.

Hundreds of thousands of Americans qualify and never apply, usually because nobody told them the program exists. This guide explains the three programs, the 2026 income limits, and exactly how Broward County seniors apply.

What a Medicare Savings Program Actually Does

A Medicare Savings Program (MSP) is a Medicaid-administered benefit that helps pay your Medicare costs. It does not replace your Medicare, and it does not change your doctors. It simply pays some or all of what Medicare charges you.

The most valuable piece is the Part B premium. If you qualify, that $185 stops coming out of your Social Security check — and your monthly deposit goes up by the same amount.

Depending on which program you qualify for, an MSP may also cover your Part B deductible, coinsurance and copayments — the 20% you normally owe for most outpatient services.

QMB, SLMB and QI: The Three Levels

There are three programs for people who already have Medicare. They work like steps: the lower your income, the more help you get. You do not choose between them — you apply once, and the state places you in the one you qualify for.

QMB — Qualified Medicare Beneficiary

The most generous level. QMB pays your Part B premium plus your deductibles, coinsurance and copayments. It also carries a strong protection: providers who accept Medicare are not permitted to bill a QMB member for those Medicare cost-sharing amounts. If you are on QMB and receive a bill for a covered service, that bill is generally improper — call the office and tell them you are a QMB member.

SLMB — Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary

Pays your Part B premium only. You remain responsible for deductibles and coinsurance. Still worth $2,220 a year.

QI — Qualifying Individual

Also pays your Part B premium only, for people with slightly higher income than SLMB allows. Two things make QI different: you must reapply every year, and funding is limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Apply early in the year if this is your level.

2026 Income and Asset Limits in Florida

These are the 2026 monthly income figures used to determine eligibility. Read them as a starting point, not a verdict — how income is counted is where most people get surprised.

Asset limits for 2026 are roughly $9,950 for an individual and $14,910 for a couple. Assets mean countable resources such as money in the bank, stocks and bonds.

Here is the part that changes everything for many families — what does not count:

• The home you live in
• One vehicle
• Household goods and personal belongings
• Burial plots, and a limited amount of burial funds
• Most life insurance with small face value

The Bonus Most People Miss: Extra Help

This is the part that surprises people. When you are approved for any Medicare Savings Program, you are automatically enrolled in Extra Help — the federal Low-Income Subsidy that cuts your Part D prescription drug costs.

Extra Help means:

• Little or no Part D monthly premium
• No Part D deductible
• Sharply reduced copays on covered prescriptions
• No coverage gap, and no late enrollment penalty for Part D
• A Special Enrollment Period, so you can change drug plans outside the normal window

For a senior taking several daily medications, Extra Help is often worth more than the premium savings itself. If you are juggling multiple prescriptions and several prescribers, it is also worth reviewing the whole list — see our guide to medication management for seniors in Tamarac.

How to Apply in Broward County

In Florida, Medicare Savings Programs are administered through the Department of Children and Families, the same agency that handles Medicaid. There is no cost to apply.

1. Gather your documents firstYour Medicare card, Social Security number, proof of income such as your Social Security award letter, recent bank statements, and proof of Florida residency. Having these ready is the difference between one visit and three.
2. Apply through Florida DCFApplications are submitted online through the ACCESS Florida system, by mail, or in person at a local service center. Ask specifically for the Medicare Savings Program — not "Medicaid," which is a different determination.
3. Get free counseling from SHINESHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) is Florida's free, unbiased Medicare counseling program, run through the Department of Elder Affairs. Counselors will review your situation at no charge. Reach the statewide Elder Helpline at 1-800-963-5337.
4. Use the Broward County ADRCThe Aging and Disability Resource Center of Broward County connects local seniors with benefits counseling and can help you find the nearest SHINE volunteer.
5. Watch for the decision letter and respond fastIf the state requests additional documents, there is a deadline. Missed paperwork is the most common reason an eligible senior gets denied.
6. Ask about retroactive coverageDepending on the program and your circumstances, benefits may be backdated. It is worth asking rather than assuming.

6 Mistakes That Cost Seniors This Benefit

• Assuming you make too much. By far the most expensive mistake. Not all income counts, and the limits rise most years.
• Counting your house or car as assets. Your primary home and one vehicle are not countable resources. Many people disqualify themselves on paper over property that was never going to count.
• Confusing it with full Medicaid. An MSP is not the same thing. You can qualify for premium help without qualifying for full Medicaid.
• Forgetting to reapply for QI. QI requires annual renewal. Seniors who were approved once often assume it renews itself, then lose the benefit quietly.
• Paying a QMB bill you do not owe. If you have QMB and a provider bills you for Medicare cost-sharing, tell them. Paying it anyway is money you will not get back easily.
• Never asking. No agency automatically enrolls you. This benefit only exists for people who apply.

If you are on a Medicare Advantage plan, an MSP can still help you — the Part B premium is charged regardless of which plan you choose. For a broader look at what your coverage includes, read our guide to Medicare primary care benefits in Florida.

Getting Help at Metropolitan Medical Centers

Metropolitan Medical Centers is a senior-focused primary care practice in Tamarac serving patients across Broward County. Alongside medical care, our social services team includes counselors who work with Medicare every day.

Through our Medicare Part B assistance service, we offer:

• Personal consultation about your Medicare coverage
• Enrollment assistance
• Plain-language explanation of what your plan covers
• Cost-saving strategies for people on a fixed income
• Ongoing support, not a one-time conversation
• Bilingual English and Spanish help

We accept most Medicare Advantage plans, including Humana, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, CarePlus, Cigna and Oscar, and offer free door-to-door transportation for patients across our eight Broward County locations.

While you are reviewing your benefits, make sure you are also using the preventive care you already pay for — start with your Medicare Annual Wellness Visit and your $0 senior vaccines.