Medicare Savings Program Washington State: Eligibility, Benefits, and How to Apply
What Washington's Medicare Savings Programs Actually Cover
Washington runs four Medicare Savings Programs through the Health Care Authority and DSHS, each covering a different slice of Medicare costs. The broadest is QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary), which pays your Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copays — effectively zeroing out your Medicare cost-sharing. SLMB and QI-1 cover your Part B premium only, worth $202.90 per month in 2026. QDWI pays the Part A premium for disabled workers under 65 who lost free Part A coverage.
All four programs fall under the Apple Health umbrella, Washington's name for Medicaid.
2026 Income Limits for Each Tier
Washington updates its income limits on April 1 each year, not January 1. The limits below are countable monthly income — your gross income minus the standard $20 unearned income disregard.
| Program | FPL % | Single Limit | Couple Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| QMB | 110% | $1,463 | $1,984 |
| SLMB | 120% | $1,596 | $2,165 |
| QI-1 | 138% | $1,835 | $2,490 |
| QDWI | 200% | $2,660 | $3,608 |
Washington expanded QI-1 eligibility to 138% FPL, above the federal floor of 135%. That wider window means more people qualify.
Washington Eliminated the Asset Test
This is the single biggest thing families miss. Washington removed the asset test for all four MSP tiers under WAC 182-517-0100. Your savings accounts, retirement funds, home equity, and investments do not count against you. A separate SSA application for Extra Help has federal resource limits of $11,190 for a single person and $22,340 for a couple, plus burial allowances. Those limits do not apply to Washington MSPs.
If your parent was told they "have too much in savings" to qualify, that information is wrong for Washington MSPs.
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How to Apply
Submit your application through Washington Connection at washingtonconnection.org — not Washington Healthplanfinder, which handles ACA marketplace plans for people under 65. Submitting an MSP application through Healthplanfinder for a Medicare-entitled person results in processing delays or administrative rejection. You can also apply by:
- Phone: Call DSHS at 1-877-501-2233
- Paper form: Fill out HCA 13-691, the MSP-specific form that skips the irrelevant asset questions
- In person: Drop off your application at any DSHS Community Services Office
- Fax: Send to 1-888-338-7410
DSHS must process applications within 45 calendar days. Most Social Security and Medicare information gets verified automatically through federal data exchanges, so you may not need to provide paper copies of your award letter.
Extra Help Comes Automatically
When Washington approves your QMB, SLMB, or QI-1 application, you're automatically deemed eligible for Medicare Part D Extra Help (the Low-Income Subsidy). No separate SSA application needed. Extra Help drops your Part D deductible to $0 and caps prescription copays at $5.10 for generics and $12.65 for brand-name drugs in 2026.
For someone paying hundreds a month in prescription costs, this automatic link between MSP approval and Extra Help can be worth more than the premium savings alone.
What to Do Next
If your parent's countable monthly income is at or below $1,835 (single) or $2,490 (couple), they likely qualify for at least QI-1 coverage, which saves $202.90 per month — $2,434.80 a year returned to their Social Security check. Start with the Washington Medicare Savings Programs & Extra Help Guide for step-by-step instructions, income worksheets, and the exact documents you'll need.
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Download the Washington — Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.