Help Paying Medicare Part B Premium in Montana
Where That $202.90 Goes Each Month
Medicare Part B costs $202.90 per month in 2026 for most beneficiaries, deducted directly from your Social Security check. On a monthly Social Security payment of $1,200-1,400, that deduction takes a visible bite — roughly 15-17% of gross income, gone before you see a dollar.
Montana runs three programs that can eliminate this deduction entirely: QMB, SLMB, and QI. All three are administered by DPHHS through local Offices of Public Assistance.
Which Program Fits Your Income
QMB covers the Part B premium plus all Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. Individual income limit: $1,350/month gross ($1,330 after the $20 disregard). Couple: $1,824/month.
SLMB covers the Part B premium only. Individual income: $1,350-$1,616/month. Couple: $1,824-$2,184/month.
QI also covers the Part B premium only, funded by a capped federal block grant. Individual income: $1,616-$1,816/month. Couple: $2,184-$2,450/month.
All three use the same resource limits: $9,950 individual, $14,910 couple. Home, one car, personal belongings, and burial funds up to $1,500 don't count.
You don't pick which program to apply for. Submit one application, and DPHHS places you in the most generous program your income supports.
How the Premium Deduction Stops
Once DPHHS approves your MSP application, they send a buy-in record to CMS, which notifies Social Security. SSA stops withholding the Part B premium after processing that record.
For SLMB and QI, coverage can be retroactive up to three months before your application month. If premiums were deducted during those months, SSA calculates the total and issues a lump-sum refund, typically 60-90 days after the state accretes the buy-in record. For QMB, coverage starts the first day of the month after DPHHS issues a favorable notice — no retroactive payments.
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The Annual Savings
At $202.90 per month, Part B premium relief saves $2,434.80 per year for a single enrollee and $4,869.60 for a couple. That alone dwarfs the cost of any effort spent applying. And if you qualify for QMB, the savings are substantially higher because it also eliminates deductibles and copays on every Medicare service.
On top of that, MSP approval automatically qualifies you for Extra Help, which covers Part D drug costs. The combined annual savings from Part B premium relief plus Extra Help can exceed $5,000.
How to Apply
Apply at apply.mt.gov, by phone at 1-888-706-1535, in person at your county OPA, or by mail to DPHHS in Helena. The state has 45 days to decide. Bring your Medicare card, Social Security award letter, and 30-60 days of bank statements.
The Montana Medicare Savings Programs guide includes income worksheets and a complete document checklist to get your Part B premium covered.
Get Your Free Montana — Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Checklist
Download the Montana — Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.