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Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries
Overview
The Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries (QMB) program helps people who have Medicare pay for their medical care. To receive benefits from the QMB program you must be receiving Part A (Hospital insurance benefits) coverage of Medicare. Your income and resources must fall within certain limits. Income limits are changed annually based on the federal cost of living adjustment.
Benefit Packages
QMB has four benefit packages based on an individual’s income. The amounts listed are for 2006-2007.
- Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries – Basic (QMB-BAS). In this benefit package the Department of Human Services pays for eligible clients’ Medicare premiums, deductibles and co-insurance. The income limit for this program is set at 100 percent of the poverty level or $867 for an individual and $1,167 for a couple.
- Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries – Disabled Worker (QMB-DW). In this package the Department pays for the Medicare Part A premiums for some disabled workers who lost eligibility for Social Security because they are working. The income limit for this program is set at 200 percent of the poverty level or $1,734 for single person and $2,334 for a couple.
- Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries – Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (QMB-SMB and SMF). In this benefit package, the Department only pays for the Medicare Part B premiums of eligible clients. The federal government pays for a portion of the cost of the SMB and SMF programs.
SMB - The income limit for SMB is set at 120 percent of the poverty level or $1,040 for individuals or $1,400 for a couple. The federal government pays 60 percent of this benefit.
SMF - The federal government also mandates that we serve people with incomes between 120 percent and 135 percent of the poverty level which equals $1,170 for an individual and $1,575 for a couple. This is called the SMF benefit. Unfortunately, we are only allowed to serve a specific number of people each year in this category. Once we reach our maximum number we must shut down enrollment. The federal government pays 100 percent of the SMF program.
Please note: Institutionalized clients (e.g. Nursing Facility residents) are not eligible for the SMF program.
For all QMB programs the allowed resource (asset) limit is set at $4000 per individual or $6000 per couple. This does not include your home, car, burial plan ($1,500) and merchandise.
How to apply
To apply for QMB, contact your Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) or Area Agency on Aging (AAA) local office. The agency will make a decision on your application within 45 days of the date you submit your application.
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