SLMB Eliminated in New York: What Replaced It
SLMB No Longer Exists in New York
If you are searching for New York's SLMB income limits, here is the short answer: the category does not exist anymore. New York eliminated the Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary program on January 1, 2023.
What happened is actually good news. New York expanded QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary) eligibility from 100% to 138% of the federal poverty level, which swallowed the entire income range that SLMB used to cover (100–120% FPL). At the same time, the state expanded QI (Qualifying Individual) from 135% to 186% FPL.
The result is a simpler, more generous two-tier system: QMB and QI. No SLMB.
Why the Upgrade Matters
SLMB only paid the Part B premium — $202.90/month in 2026. That was useful, but it left enrollees responsible for all Medicare deductibles, copays, and coinsurance.
QMB pays the premium and covers all cost-sharing:
- Part A hospital deductible ($1,736 per benefit period)
- Part B annual deductible ($283)
- All Part B coinsurance (typically 20% of approved charges)
- Skilled nursing facility coinsurance ($217/day for days 21–100)
- Part A premium for those who must pay it ($311 or $565/month)
QMB members also receive federal billing protections — providers cannot send balance bills for any of these charges.
For a former SLMB recipient, this means going from premium-only help to comprehensive cost-sharing coverage. Legacy SLMB enrollees were reclassified automatically; no reapplication was needed.
Current Income Limits (2026)
| Program | Individual | Couple |
|---|---|---|
| QMB (138% FPL) | $1,856/month | $2,509/month |
| QI (186% FPL) | $2,494/month | $3,375/month |
Anyone earning between $1,350 (old federal QMB limit) and $1,856/month who would have been classified as SLMB now gets full QMB in New York.
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What If You See SLMB on Old Paperwork
Some state and federal websites still reference SLMB as an active category. National resources like Medicare.gov describe the three-tier system (QMB, SLMB, QI) because most states still use it. In New York, any reference to SLMB is outdated.
If a caseworker mentions SLMB during an application, ask them to apply the post-2023 rules. The DOH-4328 application form does not require the applicant to choose a category — the agency determines QMB or QI based on income.
For the full breakdown of New York's current two-tier system and how to apply, see the New York Medicare Savings Programs Guide.
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