Nevada Medicare Savings Program: QMB, SLMB, and QI Eligibility Guide
What the Nevada Medicare Savings Program Actually Pays
Nevada runs three Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) through the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services (DWSS). Each one pays a different slice of your Medicare costs — and the differences matter.
QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary) covers the most. Nevada pays your standard Part B premium ($202.90/month in 2026), your Part A premium if you owe one, plus all Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. Doctors and hospitals cannot legally bill you for Medicare cost-sharing — federal law prohibits it under Section 1902(n)(3)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 1396a(n)(3)(B)).
SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary) pays your Part B premium only. No deductibles or copays. If your income is above QMB limits but still modest, this saves you $2,434.80 per year.
QI (Qualifying Individual) also pays your Part B premium only, but runs on a capped federal allotment. Nevada processes QI on a first-come, first-served basis and prioritizes prior-year enrollees. You cannot have QI and full Medicaid at the same time.
All three tiers automatically qualify you for Extra Help (Low-Income Subsidy). In 2026, QMB-only, SLMB-only, and QI enrollees may pay up to $5.10 for generic drugs and $12.65 for brand-name drugs.
2026 Income and Asset Limits
DWSS subtracts a standard $20 monthly disregard from your gross unearned income before comparing it to these limits. So if your Social Security check is $1,370, your countable income is $1,350 — right at QMB.
| Program | Single Income Limit | Couple Income Limit |
|---|---|---|
| QMB (100% FPL) | $1,350/month | $1,824/month |
| SLMB (120% FPL) | $1,351–$1,616/month | $1,825–$2,184/month |
| QI (135% FPL) | $1,617–$1,816/month | $2,185–$2,455/month |
SSA's federal resource standard is $9,950 for one person and $14,910 for a couple, while Nevada DWSS's B-300 Manual prints lower figures of $9,430 and $14,130. If your resources are near either limit, check with DWSS which figure it is enforcing. Your home, one car regardless of value, household goods, and up to $1,500 in burial funds don't count.
Many people disqualify themselves by looking at their gross Social Security before the $20 disregard. Run the actual calculation before assuming you're over the line.
How QMB, SLMB, and QI Work Differently
The biggest practical differences show up in timing and coverage:
QMB is prospective only. If DWSS approves you in April, coverage starts May 1. No going back. SLMB and QI can be applied retroactively up to three months before your application month — so an April approval could cover costs from January.
QMB stops balance billing. Every Medicare-enrolled provider must accept QMB beneficiaries without billing them for cost-sharing. SLMB and QI don't include this protection because they only cover the premium.
QI has a capacity limit. If federal funding runs out, DWSS stops enrolling new QI applicants until the next fiscal year. This hasn't happened in Nevada recently, but it's worth applying early in the calendar year.
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What Happens After Approval
Once DWSS approves your MSP, the Division of Health Care Financing and Policy sends a buy-in record to CMS, which tells Social Security to stop deducting your Part B premium. That transmission takes 60 to 90 days to process — so you'll keep seeing the $202.90 deduction on your Social Security check for two to three months after approval.
SSA issues a lump-sum refund covering every month from your effective coverage date. The refund comes by direct deposit or check. During the waiting period, your benefits are active even though deductions continue.
CMS also notifies Part D plans that you qualify for Extra Help. If you fill a prescription before the data updates, bring your DWSS approval notice to the pharmacy — it counts as Best Available Evidence for LIS copay rates.
Who Should Apply
These programs aren't limited to people in nursing homes or on full Medicaid. A retired teacher on a $1,300 Social Security check. A veteran's surviving spouse with $1,500 in monthly income. A couple living on two Social Security checks that add up to $2,100. All potentially eligible.
The Nevada Medicare Savings Programs & Extra Help Guide walks through the full income calculation with worked examples, every application channel, the authorized representative process for adult children helping a parent, and exactly what to do when the refund is delayed or a doctor bills you illegally.
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Download the Nevada — Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.