Benefits and money
Medicare and help paying for it
Medicare is health insurance for people 65 and older and for people who have had SSDISocial Security Disability Insurance: monthly payments for people with disabilities who worked and paid Social Security taxes. for 24 months. Two programs help pay the costs.
When Medicare starts
- SSDI: after you have been entitled to SSDI for 24 months. It starts on its own; your card comes in the mail.
- ALS: the first month you get SSDI.
- Kidney failure (ESRD): usually after 3 months of dialysis, or sooner with a transplant.
- Age 65: sign up during the 7 months around your 65th birthday.
- SSISupplemental Security Income: monthly payments from Social Security for people with disabilities who have low income and few savings. only? SSI does not bring Medicare. It usually brings Medicaid. See Medicaid.
Medicare and Medicaid together: people with both are called "dual eligible." Medicaid then helps with what Medicare does not cover.
Extra Help with drug costs
Extra Help (the Part D Low-Income Subsidy) lowers what you pay for prescriptions.
Who qualifies (2026 limits): yearly income up to $23,940 for one person or $32,460 for a married couple, and savings up to $18,090 or $36,100. You get it automatically if you have Medicaid, SSI, or a Medicare Savings Program.
Medicare Savings Programs
Your state pays some or all of your Medicare costs. Apply through your state Medicaid office. Getting one also gets you Extra Help.
| Program | Pays for | Income, one person | Income, couple | Savings, one / couple |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QMB Qualified Medicare Beneficiary | Part A and B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance and copays | $1,350 | $1,824 | $9,950 / $14,910 |
| SLMB Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary | Part B premium | $1,616 | $2,184 | $9,950 / $14,910 |
| QI Qualifying Individual (apply each year; first come, first served) | Part B premium | $1,816 | $2,455 | $9,950 / $14,910 |
| QDWI Qualified Disabled and Working Individual | Part A premium, for people under 65 who lost premium-free Part A because they went back to work | $5,405 | $7,299 | $4,000 / $6,000 |
Over the limit? Apply anyway. States leave out some income and savings, and some states have no savings limit.
Choosing a plan
- Open enrollment: October 15 to December 7 each year. Changes start January 1.
- Compare plans: the Medicare Plan Finder checks which plans cover your medicines and doctors.
- Free, unbiased help: your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Nobody there sells plans.
- Call Medicare: 1-800-633-4227 (1-800-MEDICARE), any time. TTY 1-877-486-2048.
- 2027 premiums: the Part B premium for 2027 was not announced as of November 9, 2026. We will post it here.
Finding doctors and care
- Medicare Care Compare: doctors, hospitals, nursing homes, home health, hospice and equipment suppliers, with ratings.
- Find a Health Center: community health centers charge on a sliding scale, with or without insurance.
- Find a clinician in the Atlas: filter by "Takes Medicare."
Last reviewed November 9, 2026. Sources: Medicare.gov: Extra Help with drug costs; Medicare.gov: Medicare Savings Programs. This page explains how programs work. It does not decide who qualifies. The agency that runs each program makes that decision.
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