Wyoming Medicare Savings Program Income Limits 2026
2026 Income Limits by MSP Tier
Wyoming's Medicare Savings Programs use federal poverty level percentages to set income ceilings. These are the 2026 countable income limits — not gross income — for each tier:
QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary) — 100% FPL: $1,350/month individual, $1,824/month couple. Covers Part B premium, Part A premium, and all Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, and copays.
SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary) — 120% FPL: approximately $1,616/month individual, $2,183/month couple. Covers Part B premium only.
QI (Qualifying Individual) — 135% FPL: approximately $1,816/month individual, $2,453/month couple. Covers Part B premium only.
All three tiers automatically qualify enrollees for Extra Help, which reduces Part D prescription drug costs.
The $20 Disregard Changes Everything
The most important thing families miss is that Wyoming evaluates countable income, not gross. Before comparing income against the thresholds above, Wyoming applies a standard $20 per month general disregard to unearned income (Social Security, pensions, annuities).
A parent receiving $1,365 in gross Social Security has countable income of $1,345 — which is under the $1,350 QMB limit. Without knowing about the disregard, that family would assume their parent is $15 over the line and never apply.
How Earned Income Is Counted
If your parent still works part-time, earned income gets an even larger reduction. Wyoming excludes the first $65 of gross earnings, then removes half the remainder. Someone earning $500 a month from part-time work would have countable earned income of $217.50 ($500 minus $65 = $435, divided by 2).
Earned and unearned income are calculated separately and then combined. The $20 general disregard applies to unearned income first; if unearned income is less than $20, the remainder carries over to earned income.
Free Download
Get the Wyoming — Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Checklist
Everything in this article as a printable checklist — plus action plans and reference guides you can start using today.
What Counts as Income
Countable unearned income includes Social Security retirement or disability payments, private pensions, annuities, and taxable interest or dividends. VA disability compensation and service pensions count, but VA Aid and Attendance, housebound allowances, and reimbursements for unusual medical expenses are excluded.
Wyoming verifies Social Security income electronically through the Beneficiary and Earnings Data Exchange (BENDEX), so the amounts on file with SSA are what the state uses.
Couples vs. Individuals
For married couples living together, income and resources are combined and measured against couple thresholds. If only one spouse applies, the non-applying spouse's income may be subject to spousal deeming rules. If the spouses are legally separated, only the applicant's income counts.
The couple thresholds are higher than simply doubling the individual limit — the 2026 QMB couple limit is $1,824, not $2,700.
When Limits Change
Federal poverty level updates are released annually and typically take effect for Wyoming's calculations in early spring. The limits listed here are current for the 2026 benefit year.
The Wyoming Medicare Savings Programs & Extra Help Guide includes a fill-in income worksheet that walks through the disregard math for your parent's exact situation, so you can determine which tier applies before filing.
Get Your Free Wyoming — Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Checklist
Download the Wyoming — Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.