Help Paying Medicare Part B Premium in New Hampshire
The Premium That Eats Into Fixed Income
The standard Medicare Part B premium in 2026 is $202.90 per month — $2,434.80 a year deducted straight from Social Security before the check reaches a bank account. For someone living on $1,300 a month, that's more than 15% of their entire income going to one insurance premium.
New Hampshire's Medicare Savings Programs exist specifically to eliminate or reduce this burden. All three main MSP tiers — QMB, SLMB, and SLMB135 — pay the Part B premium. The difference between tiers is income eligibility and whether additional costs like deductibles and copays are also covered.
Who Qualifies for Part B Premium Help
If countable monthly income (after the standard $20 disregard) falls at or below these limits, DHHS pays the Part B premium:
| Tier | Single | Couple | Also Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| QMB | ≤ $1,350 | ≤ $1,824 | All deductibles, coinsurance, copays |
| SLMB | ≤ $1,616 | ≤ $2,184 | Part B premium only |
| SLMB135 | ≤ $1,816 | ≤ $2,455 | Part B premium only |
Asset limits for all three: $9,950 single, $14,910 couple. Your home, one car, and burial funds up to $1,500 don't count.
Someone receiving $1,700 in monthly Social Security might assume they earn too much. After the $20 disregard, countable income drops to $1,680 — still under the SLMB135 ceiling of $1,816. That's the difference between paying $202.90 every month and paying nothing.
How the Premium Actually Gets Paid
After DHHS approves an MSP application, the state sends an electronic buy-in record to CMS and Social Security. Social Security stops deducting the Part B premium from the beneficiary's monthly check. The state pays Medicare directly.
This process isn't instant. The lag between DHHS approval and the Social Security adjustment typically runs 60 to 90 days. During that window, $202.90 continues to come out of each check. Those deductions are refunded once the buy-in processes — either as a lump payment or spread across a few monthly checks.
For SLMB and SLMB135, reimbursement can also go back retroactively up to three calendar months before the application month, potentially recovering $608.70 in premiums that were already paid.
Free Download
Get the New Hampshire — Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Checklist
Everything in this article as a printable checklist — plus action plans and reference guides you can start using today.
Part A Premium Help Too
Most people get Part A premium-free through 40 quarters of work history. But for those who don't — people who worked fewer than 10 years in Medicare-covered employment — the Part A premium runs up to $565 per month.
QMB covers this too. And because New Hampshire is a Part A Buy-In State, someone without premium-free Part A can apply for conditional Part A enrollment at any Social Security office year-round, without waiting for the General Enrollment Period. The state picks up the bill once QMB is approved.
What to Do Next
Apply through NH EASY at nheasy.nh.gov, by submitting Form 800 at a DHHS District Office, or by phone at 1-844-275-3447. Have your Medicare card, income proof (Social Security benefit statement), and a month of bank statements ready.
Our New Hampshire Medicare Savings Programs & Extra Help Guide walks through the income calculation step by step and includes a premium-tracking log to monitor deductions during the transition period after approval.
Get Your Free New Hampshire — Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Checklist
Download the New Hampshire — Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.