Montana Medicare Savings Program Income Limits 2026

2026 Income Limits by Program

Montana DPHHS updates its MSP income standards on April 1 each year, following the federal poverty guideline adjustments. Here are the current thresholds:

These are gross figures — before disregards. Your countable income after disregards can be significantly lower, which is why many people who think they earn too much actually qualify.

Resource Limits

For QMB, SLMB, and QI, the 2026 resource limits are $9,950 for an individual and $14,910 for a couple. Montana aligned these with the federal Extra Help baseline rather than the old $2,000/$3,000 SSI limits.

QDWI uses stricter limits: $4,000 individual, $6,000 couple.

What doesn't count as a resource:

• Your home (regardless of value, as long as you intend to return)
• One vehicle per household (no value cap)
• Personal belongings and household furniture
• Burial funds up to $1,500 per person, or any amount in an irrevocable burial trust
• Life insurance with a total face value of $1,500 or less

What counts: checking and savings accounts, stocks, bonds, CDs, mutual funds, and secondary real estate (at fair market value minus what you owe).

How the $20 Disregard Works

Montana uses the standard SSI income disregard sequence, not the gross number, to determine eligibility. The first $20 of unearned income each month is subtracted before comparison:

Example: Your parent receives $1,350 in Social Security. That's the gross QMB limit — but after the $20 disregard, countable income drops to $1,330, which is at the QMB countable threshold of $1,330. They qualify.

For earned income, there's an additional disregard: the first $65 plus half the remainder. So someone with $1,200 in Social Security and $400 in part-time wages would calculate:

• Unearned: $1,200 − $20 = $1,180 countable
• Earned: $400 − $65 = $335, then ÷ 2 = $167.50 countable
• Total countable: $1,347.50

That's above QMB's $1,330 threshold but well under SLMB's $1,596 — so they'd qualify for SLMB and get their Part B premium covered.

The COLA Disregard

When Social Security cost-of-living adjustments bump your gross income above an MSP threshold, Montana applies a COLA disregard for existing enrollees during the first months of the year. This prevents people from losing coverage solely because of a small annual increase. The state adjusts its own limits on April 1 to catch up.

Spousal Income Rules

If only one spouse applies, the non-applying spouse's income is subject to deeming rules — a portion is allocated to the non-applicant before comparing the remainder against individual limits. Spouses who are legally separated or living in separate households for more than one calendar month are evaluated as individuals, and deeming stops.

Adult children's income is never counted, even if they live in the same household.

For detailed income worksheets with worked examples and a step-by-step application guide, see our Montana Medicare Savings Programs guide.

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