Help Paying the Medicare Part B Premium in Kansas

The Part B Premium Takes a Real Bite

Medicare Part B costs $202.90 per month in 2026. For a Kansas senior living on $1,400 in Social Security, that deduction wipes out 14% of their income before they buy groceries. And because the Part B premium is deducted automatically from the Social Security check, many families do not even realize there is a program that stops the deduction entirely.

Three Programs That Pay the Part B Premium

Kansas runs three Medicare Savings Program tiers, and all three pay the full Part B premium:

QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary) — income at or below $1,350/month (single) or $1,824 (couple). Covers Part B premium plus all Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments.

LMB (Low Income Medicare Beneficiary) — income between $1,350.01 and $1,616/month (single). Covers the Part B premium only.

ELMB (Expanded Low Income Medicare Beneficiary) — income between $1,616.01 and $1,816/month (single). Same as LMB: Part B premium only.

All three tiers share a countable resource limit of $9,950 (single) or $14,910 (couple). The home is excluded if the applicant lives there or intends to return; one vehicle used for transportation, household goods, and burial plots do not count.

The $20 Disregard Changes the Math

Kansas subtracts a $20 general disregard from gross unearned income before comparing against the limits. This means a senior with a gross Social Security benefit of $1,365 has countable income of $1,345 — under the $1,350 QMB cap.

The calculation uses gross Social Security, not the net deposit. If $202.90 has already been deducted for Part B before the check hits the bank, Kansas still counts the pre-deduction amount. That trips up families who check their parent's bank statement and assume the net figure is what matters.

How to Apply

Submit Form KC-1500 to the KanCare Clearinghouse:

• Online: applyforKanCare.ks.gov
• Phone: 1-800-792-4884
• Mail: KanCare Clearinghouse, P.O. Box 3599, Topeka, KS 66601
• Fax: 1-844-264-6285

Check the "Medicare Savings Programs / Premium Assistance" box. Attach a copy of the Social Security COLA Award Letter and a recent bank statement. If an adult child handles the paperwork, also submit Form KC-6100 (Medical Representative Authorization).

Processing takes up to 45 days.

When the Premium Stops and the Refund Arrives

QMB: Part B premium payment begins the first day of the month after the approval notice.

LMB and ELMB: Coverage can be retroactive up to three months. SSA stops the Part B deduction and sends a refund check or direct deposit for premiums withheld during the retroactive period. The refund typically takes 60 to 90 days after state approval.

The monthly savings on Part B alone is $2,434.80 per year. For a couple where both spouses qualify, that doubles.

Extra Help Comes Automatically

Approval for any MSP tier automatically qualifies the enrollee for Part D Extra Help, reducing or eliminating prescription drug copayments. No separate application needed. Under the 2026 Part D redesign, all Extra Help recipients receive the full subsidy with no plan deductible.

Next Step

If your parent's countable monthly income after the $20 unearned-income disregard is at or below $1,816 and their countable resources are at or below $9,950 (the single-person limits), they may qualify for an MSP tier that pays the Part B premium. The Kansas Medicare Savings Programs & Extra Help Guide includes the income worksheet, document checklist, and step-by-step Clearinghouse walkthrough.

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