Washington QMB vs SLMB vs QI-1: Which Medicare Savings Program Fits Your Situation
Three Programs, Three Income Brackets
Washington's Medicare Savings Programs aren't one-size-fits-all. DSHS assigns you to QMB, SLMB, or QI-1 based on your countable monthly income — and the benefits each tier delivers are very different.
Here's how they break down for 2026 (effective April 1):
| Program | Income Limit (Single) | Income Limit (Couple) | What It Pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| QMB | $1,463/mo | $1,984/mo | Part A premium, Part B premium, deductibles, coinsurance, copays |
| SLMB | $1,596/mo | $2,165/mo | Part B premium only ($202.90/mo) |
| QI-1 | $1,835/mo | $2,490/mo | Part B premium only ($202.90/mo) |
These are countable income limits — your gross minus the $20 unearned income disregard that Washington applies to every household.
QMB: The Full Package
QMB is the most comprehensive tier. It covers everything: both premiums, the $1,676 Part A hospital deductible, the $288 Part B deductible, and all coinsurance and copays. Providers cannot bill you for any of those costs — that's a federal protection backed by state law.
QMB also unlocks Part A buy-in for people who don't have 40 work credits. Washington pays the $565 monthly Part A premium and waives late enrollment penalties through a conditional enrollment process with SSA.
If your parent's countable income is at or below $1,463 (single), this is what they'll get.
SLMB: Part B Premium Relief
SLMB covers the Part B premium — $202.90 per month in 2026, or $2,434.80 per year back in the Social Security check. It doesn't cover deductibles or coinsurance, but SLMB can be retroactive up to three calendar months before the application month.
That retroactivity matters. If your parent applied in July and gets approved, DSHS can cover the Part B premium back to April, and SSA will reimburse those withheld premiums.
Free Download
Get the Washington — Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Checklist
Everything in this article as a printable checklist — plus action plans and reference guides you can start using today.
QI-1: The Widest Income Window
QI-1 covers the same benefit as SLMB — the Part B premium — but reaches higher up the income scale to 138% FPL. Washington expanded this beyond the federal floor of 135%, so the ceiling is $1,835 per month for a single person.
The catch: QI-1 runs on a fixed federal block grant. Funding renews each year, and applications are processed first-come, first-served, so applying early in the federal fiscal year (October through December) is prudent.
Like SLMB, QI-1 can be retroactive up to three calendar months before the application month.
All Three Eliminate Asset Testing
Regardless of which tier you qualify for, Washington does not count assets. Savings accounts, retirement funds, home equity — none of it matters for MSP eligibility under WAC 182-517-0100. This is a state-level decision; federal rules still show asset limits, but Washington overrides them.
All Three Trigger Automatic Extra Help
Approval for any of the three main tiers (QMB, SLMB, or QI-1) automatically deems you eligible for Part D Extra Help, which caps prescription copays at $5.10 for generics and $12.65 for brand-name drugs. No separate application to SSA needed.
How DSHS Decides Your Tier
You don't pick your program — DSHS assigns the highest tier your income supports. Apply once through Washington Connection (washingtonconnection.org) or Form HCA 13-691, and the system places you automatically. If your income drops later, you can request a reassessment to move up to a better tier.
For a worked example showing exactly how DSHS calculates countable income from a Social Security check, see the Washington Medicare Savings Programs & Extra Help Guide.
Get Your Free Washington — Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Checklist
Download the Washington — Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.