Utah QI Program: Income Limits and How to Apply
The Qualifying Individual program is Utah's highest-income tier of Medicare Savings Programs. If your parent earns too much for QMB or SLMB but still struggles with Part B premiums, QI might be the answer — with one important catch.
What QI Covers
QI pays the Medicare Part B premium, $202.90 per month in 2026. That's the same benefit as SLMB. It does not cover Part A premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, or copays.
2026 Income and Asset Limits
QI is available to individuals between 120% and 135% of the federal poverty level:
- Single: $1,617 to $1,816/month
- Couple: $2,185 to $2,455/month
- Resource limits: $9,950 (single) / $14,910 (couple)
These income figures include the standard $20 monthly disregard that DWS applies to unearned income. The limits take effect March 1, 2026.
The Capped Funding Catch
QI is the only Medicare Savings Program funded through a capped annual federal allotment rather than an open-ended entitlement. States approve applications on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority for people who received QI benefits the previous year.
Funding is limited to the annual allotment and distributed first-come, first-served. Contact DWS to ask whether QI funding remains available for the current year. Once enrolled, QI coverage continues through the end of the calendar year as long as you remain eligible.
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QI Cannot Overlap with Medicaid
This is the rule that surprises people: if your parent becomes eligible for full Medicaid, they're automatically disqualified from QI. Full Medicaid already covers Medicare premiums (through QMB-Plus or SLMB-Plus), so there's no gap — but the transition isn't always seamless. A parent who loses full Medicaid eligibility would need to reapply for QI separately.
Retroactive Coverage
Like SLMB, QI can be applied retroactively for up to three months before the application date, provided your parent met all eligibility requirements during those months. QMB, by contrast, is strictly prospective.
Automatic Extra Help
Any MSP enrollment — including QI — automatically qualifies your parent for Part D Extra Help (the Low-Income Subsidy). That means $0 Part D premium on benchmark plans, no annual prescription deductible, and copays capped at $5.10 for generics and $12.65 for brand-name drugs in 2026.
Since Utah has no State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program, Extra Help through MSP enrollment is the primary route to prescription drug cost relief.
Applying for QI
Applications go through the Department of Workforce Services, and you don't need to specify QI by name. DWS evaluates income and resources and assigns the appropriate MSP level:
- Online: myCase portal at jobs.utah.gov/mycase
- Phone: 1-866-435-7414
- Paper: Form 61 to DWS
The Utah Medicare Savings Programs & Extra Help Guide covers the QI application process and helps you calculate whether your parent's income falls in the QI range after the $20 disregard.
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