Wyoming SLMB Program
What SLMB Does in Wyoming
The Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary program pays one thing: the Medicare Part B premium. In 2026, that standard premium is $202.90 per month, deducted directly from Social Security. For someone living on $1,400 to $1,600 a month, getting that deduction stopped and refunded makes a real difference — about $2,435 per year back in the household budget.
SLMB does not cover deductibles, coinsurance, or copays the way QMB does. But it does automatically qualify the enrollee for Extra Help, which drops Part D prescription copays to around $5 for generics and $13 for brand-name drugs.
Who Qualifies
SLMB is for Medicare beneficiaries whose countable income falls between 100% and 120% of the Federal Poverty Level. For 2026 in Wyoming, the countable income ceiling is approximately $1,616 per month for an individual and $2,183 for a married couple.
"Countable" income is not gross income. Wyoming applies the standard $20 per month unearned income disregard before comparing against the threshold. A parent receiving $1,630 in gross Social Security would have countable income of $1,610 — under the SLMB limit.
Asset limits are the same as QMB: $9,950 for an individual, $14,910 for a couple. The home, one car, burial plots, and up to $1,500 in burial funds per person are exempt. No look-back period applies to asset transfers.
SLMB vs. QMB
The practical difference is coverage scope. QMB covers all Medicare cost-sharing (premiums, deductibles, coinsurance). SLMB covers only the Part B premium. If your parent's income is at or below $1,350 countable (individual), they should apply for QMB instead — it is the same application process, and the state determines which tier the applicant qualifies for based on the numbers.
People right at the QMB threshold who get denied for QMB are often approved for SLMB automatically during the same determination. Wyoming's eligibility system evaluates all MSP tiers in one pass.
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How SLMB Coverage Starts
Unlike QMB, which is prospective only, SLMB coverage can be retroactive. Benefits begin on the first day of the application month and can reach back up to three calendar months before the application, as long as the applicant met all eligibility criteria during those months. This means retroactive Part B premium refunds for those prior months.
After approval, SSA processes the buy-in tape and stops deducting the Part B premium from the Social Security check. This takes 60 to 90 days. Any premiums withheld after the effective date are refunded.
How to Apply
The application process is identical to QMB — one form covers all Wyoming Medicare Savings Program tiers. Apply through the WES portal at wesystem.wyo.gov, call 1-855-294-2127, or mail/fax the paper application to the Customer Service Center.
The Wyoming Medicare Savings Programs & Extra Help Guide includes income calculation worksheets that show exactly how the $20 disregard and earned income deductions apply to your parent's specific situation, so you know which tier they qualify for before filing.
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