Part B Premium Too High? How Massachusetts Pays It for You
Every month, $202.90 disappears from your parent's Social Security check before they see a dollar. That is the 2026 Medicare Part B premium — up from $185 last year — and for someone living on $2,000 a month, it takes more than ten percent of their gross income. Massachusetts has a program that can eliminate that deduction entirely.
How the Part B Deduction Works
Medicare Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, and durable medical equipment. Part B enrollment is optional, but people who keep it owe a premium. For many, Social Security withholds the premium from the monthly benefit; people who do not receive Social Security are billed directly by Medicare, typically quarterly.
In 2026, the standard Part B premium is $202.90 per month — $2,434.80 per year. Higher-income beneficiaries pay more through Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts (IRMAA), but most seniors on fixed incomes pay the standard rate.
Your parent can decline Part B, but doing so ends Part B coverage for doctor visits and outpatient care. What they can do instead is get Massachusetts to pay the premium on their behalf.
The Medicare Savings Programs Pay It
Massachusetts runs three Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) that cover the Part B premium for eligible residents. All three pay the full $202.90 per month, and QMB adds even more:
QMB (Senior Buy-In) — for individuals with countable income at or below $2,527 per month (190% FPL). Pays Part B premiums, the $283 annual Part B deductible, all coinsurance and copays, and Part A premiums if applicable.
SLMB — for individuals with countable income above $2,527 and up to 210% FPL. Pays the Part B premium only.
QI — for individuals with countable income up to $2,993 per month (225% FPL). Pays the Part B premium only, funded through a federal block grant.
Massachusetts eliminated the asset test for all three tiers in March 2024. Savings accounts, retirement funds, home equity, and vehicles are completely disregarded. The only financial test is monthly income.
What Happens to the Social Security Check
When MassHealth approves your parent for any MSP tier, the state notifies CMS, which tells the Social Security Administration to stop withholding the Part B premium. SSA then refunds every premium dollar withheld from the effective date of coverage forward — deposited as a lump sum directly to your parent's bank account or mailed as a Treasury check.
The process takes 60 to 90 days after state approval. During that window, Social Security deductions or direct Medicare bills may continue. Your parent should not try to stop the deduction manually or skip direct bills — SSA/CMS update records once the buy-in data syncs, and premiums paid for months on or after the coverage effective date are refunded retroactively.
For SLMB and QI, coverage can also be retroactive for up to three calendar months before the application month if your parent met all eligibility criteria during those months. For QI, they also must not have received full Medicaid during the retroactive period. That means an additional refund of up to $608.70 for three months of premiums.
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How to Apply
File the MHBI form (the streamlined Medicare Savings Programs Application) through any of these channels:
- Online at mass.gov/masshealth
- Mail to MassHealth Enrollment Center, PO Box 290794, Charlestown, MA 02129-0214
- Fax to (617) 887-8799
- Phone at 1-800-841-2900
Because there is no asset test, the form only asks for identity, Medicare status, and income sources. No bank statements needed. Processing takes up to 45 days.
The Bonus: Prescription Cost Relief
Approval for any MSP tier automatically qualifies your parent for full Extra Help (Part D Low-Income Subsidy). For MSP-only beneficiaries, that means a $0 Part D deductible instead of $615 and 2026 copays capped at $5.10 for generic or preferred multi-source drugs and $12.65 for other drugs. No separate application — MassHealth transmits the data electronically.
Between the Part B premium savings and prescription cost relief, a single MSP approval can put over $3,000 per year back into your parent's budget.
The Massachusetts Medicare Savings Programs guide includes the income calculation worksheet, a document checklist, and step-by-step instructions for tracking the premium refund after approval.
Get Your Free Massachusetts — Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Checklist
Download the Massachusetts — Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.