Help Paying Medicare Part B Premium in Delaware
The standard Medicare Part B premium in 2026 is $202.90 per month — $2,434.80 a year pulled straight from a Social Security check before it even hits the bank account. For a senior living on $1,200 a month, that's nearly 17% of their income gone before rent or groceries. Delaware has a program that eliminates that deduction entirely.
Three Programs That Cover the Part B Premium
All three tiers of Delaware's Medicare Savings Programs pay the Part B premium. The difference is what else they cover and where the income cutoff falls.
QMB (up to $1,350/month individual, $1,824 couple): Covers the Part B premium plus Part A and Part B deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. The most comprehensive tier.
SLMB ($1,351–$1,616/month individual, $1,825–$2,184 couple): Covers the Part B premium only. Still worth $2,434.80 per year.
QI ($1,617–$1,816/month individual, $2,185–$2,455 couple): Also covers the Part B premium. First-come, first-served under a capped federal allotment, with annual reapplication required.
Those numbers include Delaware's $20 monthly unearned income disregard. A Social Security check of $1,800 gross puts your parent in QI range — still eligible for full Part B premium relief.
No Asset Test in Delaware
Here's what most families get wrong: they assume savings disqualify their parent. In Delaware, the asset test for QMB, SLMB, and QI has been completely eliminated. The only financial question is monthly income. A $50,000 IRA, a paid-off house, a savings account — none of it matters for MSP eligibility.
How the Money Comes Back
Once approved, Delaware's Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance transmits a buy-in record to CMS, which updates SSA's payment system. That process takes 60 to 90 days due to batch processing schedules.
During that lag, Part B premiums may still be deducted. When the update catches up, SSA stops the deduction and issues a retroactive lump-sum refund for every month the premium was withheld after the effective coverage date.
For SLMB and QI, benefits can be retroactive up to 3 months before the application month (provided the applicant was eligible during those months). That retroactive coverage means the refund can reach back further than the approval date.
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The Extra Help Bonus
Getting approved for any MSP tier automatically qualifies your parent for Extra Help — the federal Part D Low-Income Subsidy. No separate application. Extra Help covers most prescription drug costs, capping copays at $5.10 for generics and $12.65 for brand-name drugs in 2026.
Combined, Part B premium relief plus Extra Help can return thousands of dollars annually to a fixed-income budget.
How to Apply
Apply through Delaware ASSIST (assist.dhss.delaware.gov) or by submitting the paper Application for Social Service Benefits at any DSS State Service Center. Choose "Help with Medicare Costs" during the benefit selection. Bring a Medicare card, proof of income (Social Security award letter), and proof of Delaware residency.
Processing takes up to 45 days. Free help with the application is available from the Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau (DMAB) at 1-800-336-9500 — they're the state's official SHIP counselors and provide unbiased guidance at no cost.
Our Delaware Medicare Savings Programs, Extra Help & DPAP Guide walks through the entire process — income calculation worksheets, the document checklist, and exactly what to expect at each stage from application through the Part B premium refund.
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Download the Delaware — Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.