Do I Qualify for the Alabama Medicare Savings Program?

The Part B premium takes $202.90 out of your Social Security check every month in 2026. If your income is low enough — and in Alabama, the threshold is higher than most people expect — the state will pay that premium for you, plus potentially all your Medicare cost-sharing. Here's how to figure out whether you qualify without making an appointment or filling out a single form.

The Core Qualification Requirements

Alabama's Medicare Savings Programs require applicants to meet these core criteria:

1. Medicare Part A entitlement. QMB applicants without premium-free Part A must be eligible for conditional Part A enrollment. SLMB and QI-1 require active Part A entitlement.
2. Alabama residency.
3. Citizenship or immigration status. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or meet Alabama's qualified immigration-status rules, subject to applicable exemptions from the general five-year rule.
4. Income within the applicable limit. Your countable monthly income must be at or below the limit for the tier.

There is no asset test for QMB, SLMB, or QI-1. You do not need both Part A and Part B, but Part A entitlement is required. QI-1 funding is capped, and you cannot receive QI-1 if you qualify for another full Medicaid category.

2026 Income Limits

Alabama publishes limits that already include the standard $20 monthly income disregard. If your gross income falls at or below these figures, you pass the income test:

Individual:

• QMB: $1,350/month (covers Part B premium, Part A premium, deductibles, and coinsurance)
• SLMB: $1,616/month (covers Part B premium only)
• QI-1: $1,816/month (covers Part B premium only)

Married couple:

• QMB: $1,824/month
• SLMB: $2,184/month
• QI-1: $2,455/month

Alabama Medicaid determines which tier you qualify for — you don't need to pick one. Apply once and you're assigned the highest level your income supports.

How to Calculate Your Countable Income

Start with gross Social Security — the amount on your benefit letter or SSA-1099, not the net deposit after premiums and tax withholding are deducted. This is the single most common mistake in self-assessment. People look at their bank deposit and think they're under the limit when their gross amount puts them over.

Add every other income source: private pensions, civil service retirement, VA annuities, and any wages or self-employment income.

Then subtract the disregards:

• $20 general disregard — comes off unearned income first (but Alabama's published limits already factor this in, so if you're comparing against the table above, don't subtract it twice)
• $65 earned income disregard — if you work, subtract $65 from gross wages, then subtract half of what's left

A quick example: You receive $1,380/month gross Social Security and no other income. Comparing $1,380 against the table: it's above the QMB limit ($1,350) but well below SLMB ($1,616). You qualify for SLMB — Alabama Medicaid pays your $202.90 Part B premium, saving you $2,434.80 per year.

The Zero-Asset Rule

Alabama is one of the states that completely eliminated the asset test for Medicare Savings Programs under Section 1902(r)(2). This means:

• Your savings account balance doesn't matter
• Your home equity doesn't matter
• Retirement accounts, CDs, stocks, and bonds don't matter
• Vehicles and personal property don't matter

If you've seen federal MSP information listing asset limits ($9,950 individual / $14,910 couple for 2026), those don't apply in Alabama. The state chose to disregard all resources for QMB, SLMB, and QI-1 determinations.

Old versions of Alabama's application forms may still show asset-related fields. Those fields are non-binding — your application legally cannot be denied for excess assets.

Special Situations

Married but only one spouse has Medicare. Alabama checks both the applicant's individual countable income against the individual limit and the couple's combined countable income against the couple limit. Only the Medicare-enrolled spouse receives MSP benefits.

You don't have premium-free Part A. If you have fewer than 40 work quarters and qualify for QMB, Alabama is a Group-Payer state. You must pursue conditional Part A enrollment through Social Security during a valid enrollment period; after QMB approval, Alabama pays the Part A premium. SLMB and QI-1 require active Part A entitlement.

You receive SSI. Alabama is a Section 1634 state, meaning SSI recipients are automatically enrolled in full Medicaid, which includes all QMB protections. You don't need to file a separate Form 210.

Next Step

If the numbers above suggest you qualify, the application is Form 210 — a streamlined form that takes about 15 minutes to complete. The Alabama Medicare Savings Programs & Extra Help Guide includes an eligibility worksheet that runs the exact income calculation Alabama Medicaid uses, so you can verify your qualification before you file.

See more Alabama guides →