North Dakota Medicare Savings Program: QMB, SLMB, and QI Explained
What the Medicare Savings Programs Cover in North Dakota
North Dakota runs three main Medicare Savings Program tiers through the Department of Health and Human Services, with local Human Service Zones handling applications and eligibility decisions.
QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary) is the most comprehensive. It pays the Medicare Part B premium ($202.90/month in 2026), the Part A premium if you don't get it free, and all Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. The Part A hospital deductible alone is $1,736 per benefit period — QMB wipes that out entirely.
SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary) covers just the Part B premium. If your parent's Social Security check loses $202.90 every month to that deduction, SLMB stops it.
QI (Qualifying Individual) also covers the Part B premium, but works differently. It runs on a capped federal allotment, so North Dakota approves applicants first-come, first-served. People already enrolled in QI from the previous year get priority.
Who Qualifies
Eligibility depends on countable monthly income and resources. North Dakota applies a $20 unearned income disregard before comparing your income to the limits.
For a single person in 2026, QMB requires income at or below $1,350/month after the disregard, SLMB covers $1,350.01–$1,616, and QI covers $1,616.01–$1,816. Couples get higher limits: $1,824 for QMB, $2,184 for SLMB, and $2,455 for QI.
The resource limit is the same across all three: $9,950 for an individual and $14,910 for a couple. Your parent's home, one vehicle, personal belongings, and up to $1,500 per person in a designated burial fund don't count toward that cap.
How to Apply
You can apply online through the ND HHS Self-Service Portal at apply.nd.gov, submit Form SFN 958 (Health Care Application for the Elderly and Disabled) by mail or fax, or walk into any Human Service Zone office. The Customer Support Center at 1-866-614-6005 can also take applications by phone.
Processing takes up to 45 days from a complete application. If information is missing, the state sends a written request giving 10–14 days to respond.
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The Extra Help Bonus
Getting approved for any Medicare Savings Program in North Dakota automatically qualifies your parent for Extra Help (the Part D Low-Income Subsidy). Under the Inflation Reduction Act, all Extra Help enrollees now receive the full subsidy — generic copays capped at $4.90, brand-name at $12.15, and zero costs once hitting the catastrophic threshold.
No separate Extra Help application needed. CMS handles it through data-sharing with the state.
What Families Should Know First
North Dakota is a Part A Buy-In State, which matters if your parent lacks 40 quarters of work history. They can apply for QMB and conditional Part A enrollment at any time — no waiting for the January–March General Enrollment Period that restricts applicants in other states.
The North Dakota Medicare Savings Programs & Extra Help Guide walks through the complete application process with eligibility worksheets, document checklists, and the exact forms to file at every step.
Get Your Free North Dakota — Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Checklist
Download the North Dakota — Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.