SLMB and QI Eligibility in Missouri

What SLMB and QI-1 Cover

Both programs do the same thing: pay your Medicare Part B monthly premium. In 2026, that's $202.90 per month for most people — $2,434.80 per year that stops coming out of your Social Security check.

Neither program covers Part A premiums, hospital deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance. For that level of help, you'd need to qualify for QMB, which has a lower income threshold.

Income Limits

The difference between SLMB and QI-1 is strictly the income band:

Both programs share the same resource limit: $9,660 for an individual, $14,470 for a couple. The calculation works the same as QMB — FSD takes your gross Social Security benefit, subtracts the $20 monthly unearned income disregard, and compares the result against these ceilings.

SLMB Group 1 vs. Group 2

Missouri divides SLMB into two sub-categories, which causes real confusion in practice:

SLMB Group 1 is standalone MSP coverage. You receive Part B premium assistance only, without full MO HealthNet Medicaid benefits. Most SLMB enrollees fall here.

SLMB Group 2 (sometimes called SLMB+) applies to individuals who qualify for both SLMB and full MO HealthNet state plan benefits simultaneously. They get Part B premium help through SLMB plus comprehensive Medicaid coverage through MO HealthNet. The distinction is administrative — FSD tracks the funding streams separately — but from the beneficiary's perspective, Group 2 provides significantly broader coverage.

QI-1's Funding Limitation

QI-1 is funded through a federal block grant, unlike QMB and SLMB which are open-ended entitlements. In practice, this means:

• FSD approves QI-1 applicants on a first-come, first-served basis
• Existing enrollees get priority during annual renewal periods
• You cannot hold QI-1 and full MO HealthNet Medicaid at the same time — if you qualify for full Medicaid, you'd shift to that (which covers far more than Part B premiums)

Because QI-1 funding is capped, apply promptly. FSD approves qualified applicants on a first-come, first-served basis and prioritizes existing enrollees during annual renewal windows.

Both Trigger Extra Help and MoRx

Approval for either SLMB or QI-1 automatically qualifies you for federal Extra Help (the Part D Low-Income Subsidy), which eliminates your Part D deductible and caps prescription copays. It also enrolls you in MoRx, Missouri's pharmacy assistance program that pays 50% of remaining out-of-pocket drug costs.

So while SLMB and QI-1 officially only cover the Part B premium, the downstream benefits are substantial.

Retroactive Coverage

Unlike QMB, which is strictly prospective, SLMB and QI-1 allow up to three calendar months of retroactive coverage before the application month — provided you met all financial and non-financial eligibility criteria during those months. If you qualified in July but didn't apply until October, FSD can cover your Part B premiums back to July.

This makes timing less urgent than QMB, but filing promptly still matters.

How to Apply

File Form IM-1MSP with the Family Support Division through myDSS (mydss.mo.gov), by phone (855-373-4636), by fax (855-600-3754), or in person at an FSD Resource Center. The same form covers QMB, SLMB, and QI-1 — FSD determines which tier you qualify for based on your income.

For a comparison of all MSP tiers, eligibility worksheets, and the document checklist, the Missouri Medicare Savings guide covers SLMB, QI-1, and the process of filing with FSD.

See more Missouri guides →