Florida SLMB and QI Programs: Eligibility, Benefits, and How They Compare to QMB
Florida runs three Medicare Savings Programs through the Department of Children and Families, and the two that get the least attention — SLMB and QI — cover the exact same bill that keeps eating into Social Security checks: the $202.90 monthly Part B premium. If your parent's income sits above the QMB ceiling but below 135% of the federal poverty level, one of these programs could put that money back.
What SLMB and QI Actually Cover
Both SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary) and QI (Qualifying Individual, sometimes called QI-1) do one thing: pay the Medicare Part B premium. In 2026 that premium is $202.90 per month, which means $2,434.80 a year that stops coming out of the Social Security check once the state takes over.
Neither program covers Part A or Part B deductibles, coinsurance, or copayments. That is the key difference from QMB, which covers premiums plus all Medicare cost-sharing and carries federal balance-billing protections. SLMB and QI enrollees remain responsible for the 20% coinsurance on outpatient services and the Part B deductible.
Both programs also trigger automatic enrollment in Extra Help (the Part D Low-Income Subsidy), which reduces prescription drug copays to $1.60–$5.10 for generics and $4.90–$12.65 for brand-name drugs.
2026 Income and Resource Limits
The three MSP tiers form a ladder. Florida applies the standard $20 monthly unearned income disregard before comparing to the limits:
| Program | Monthly Income (Single) | Monthly Income (Couple) | Resource Limit (Single) | Resource Limit (Couple) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QMB | Up to $1,350 | Up to $1,824 | $9,950 | $14,910 |
| SLMB | $1,350.01–$1,616 | $1,824.01–$2,184 | $9,950 | $14,910 |
| QI | $1,616.01–$1,816 | $2,184.01–$2,455 | $9,950 | $14,910 |
Resource limits are identical across all three programs. The primary home (regardless of value), one vehicle, household furnishings, and up to $2,500 in designated burial funds per person are all excluded from the count.
How QI Differs from SLMB
Beyond the income brackets, there is one structural difference worth knowing: QI runs on a capped federal block grant. Florida processes QI applications first-come, first-served, and existing enrollees get priority at annual renewal. If the grant runs dry late in the calendar year, new approvals freeze until the next year's funding arrives.
SLMB, by contrast, is an open-ended entitlement — everyone who qualifies gets in regardless of timing.
The other difference: QI recipients cannot hold full Medicaid at the same time. Someone approved for full Medicaid benefits would move to QMB or SLMB instead.
Both SLMB and QI provide up to three calendar months of retroactive Part B premium coverage before the application month, if the applicant was eligible during those months. For QI, the retroactive months must fall within the same calendar year as the application. QMB does not offer retroactive coverage.
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How to Apply
The application process is identical for all three MSP levels. Florida DCF determines which tier you qualify for based on the income and resources reported:
- Online through MyACCESS — create an account at the MyACCESS portal, select "Apply for New Benefits," and check the box requesting help paying Medicare premiums
- Paper Form CF-ES 2282 — mail to ACCESS Central Mail Center, P.O. Box 1770, Ocala, FL 34478-1770, or deliver to a local DCF service center
- Through an ACCESS Community Partner — local Area Agencies on Aging and Aging and Disability Resource Centers can help with submission
DCF has 45 calendar days to process the application. If electronic verification through the Asset Verification System and State Verification Exchange System confirms everything, approval can come faster. If DCF needs additional documentation, the notice provides a minimum 10-day response window; follow the due date on the notice.
You do not need to specify which program you want. DCF evaluates your income against all three tiers and places you in the highest-benefit program you qualify for — QMB first, then SLMB, then QI.
Which Program Should You Aim For
You do not choose. DCF runs the numbers and assigns the tier your income supports. But understanding the tiers helps you know what to expect:
- If the Social Security check is $1,330 or less (single), the $20 disregard brings countable income under $1,350 — that is QMB territory, with full cost-sharing coverage and billing protections
- Between $1,350 and $1,616 countable income means SLMB — premium covered, cost-sharing still yours
- Between $1,616 and $1,816 means QI — same premium coverage as SLMB, subject to funding availability
If income is right at a boundary, the annual Social Security COLA adjustment in January can push someone from one tier to another. The federal poverty guidelines update in April typically adjusts the MSP limits upward to compensate, but there is a gap between January and April where the COLA disregard protects enrollees from losing coverage.
The Florida Medicare Savings Programs & Extra Help Guide walks through every tier with the current-year figures, income calculation worksheets, and a document preparation checklist that covers the full application from start to approval.
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