$174.70/month

For many older adults, especially those with chronic conditions, out-of-pocket Medicare costs can add up quickly. In California, there are Medicare Savings Programs that can help pay for Medicare costs such as premiums, deductibles, and copays. A premium is money you pay to keep your Medicare plan, a deductible is money you pay before Medicare pays for your care, and a copay is a standard fee you pay when visiting a doctor or specialist.

You may qualify for a California Medicare Savings Program if you are enrolled in Medicare–or are about to enroll–and you have a limited income.

There are several types of Medicare Savings Programs in California, including:

• Qualified Medicare Beneficiary: This program, also known simply as QMB, has the lowest income limit and covers your Medicare Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles, and copayments. A lower income limit means that you wouldn't have had to earn a lot in a year to qualify for this program.
• Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) and Qualifying Individual (QI): These two Medicare Savings Programs have slightly higher income limits, meaning if you earned up to this higher threshold you could qualify and have your Medicare Part B Premium covered.

As of January 2024, California no longer applies an asset limit, or a rule about how much money you may have in your bank account, etc.

You may also want to find out if you qualify for a Special Needs Plan (SNP), which are a special type of Medicare Advantage Plan for people who:

• Have both Medicare and Medicaid (including QMB)
• Have a serious and disabling chronic medical condition, or
• Live in a nursing home, or live at home but have high care needs and could qualify for a nursing home

Different Special Needs Plans (SNPs) are available in different areas of the country. You can learn more by contacting California's Medicare Counseling (HICAP). You can locate a HICAP office in your area by selecting your county on the Find Services in My County page or by calling 1-800-434-0222.

What are Medicare Savings Programs?

Medicare Savings Programs (also called MSPs) are state programs that can help you pay for Medicare costs. There are MSPs in every state, and most are administered by the state’s Medicaid office. In California, MSPs are administered by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS).

Can I get help paying for prescription drug coverage as well?

Once you're in a Medicare Savings Program, or MSP, you will be signed up for the Extra Help program. If you meet the guidelines for Extra Help, you will have low or no deductible, low or no premiums, no coverage gap, and will pay much less for your prescriptions. You can learn more about the program, and even apply on our website.

How do I apply for a Medicare Savings Program in California?

You have several options for how to apply for a Mediscare Savings Program in California. Choose your option below.

You can use the online application on BenefitsCal.com.

Before you apply, make sure to give yourself 30 to 60 minutes to apply. One online application pro tip: Create an account on BenefitsCal.com so you can save your work and refer to it at a later time if needed.

Apply Online

You can fill out an application form (available in many languages) and mail your completed and signed application to:

Covered California
P.O. Box 989725
West Sacramento, CA 95798-9725

Or mail it to your local county office.​

Download Application

How do I know if I'm eligible for an MSP?

In general, you must either be enrolled in Medicare or expect to enroll soon. Each program has its own income limit, or the maximum amount of income you can earn in a year to qualify:

• Qualified Medicare Beneficiary: Your net countable income must be at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
• Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary: Your net countable income must be below 120% of the FPL.
• Qualifying Individual: Your net countable income must be below 135% of the FPL.

You should consider applying if you need help even if you think your income might bee too high. Certain types of income are not counted, and the only way to know for certain if you qualify is to apply. Also, prior to January 2024, California had a limit on resources or assets, such as bank account balances, stocks, investment properties, etc. California no longer applies this limit to Medicare Savings Programs, which could help make you eligible.

What documents do I need to apply for a California MSP?

Before you start your application, it may be helpful to gather the following information to make your application process easier:

• The amount of income you get from jobs and other sources
• Medicare numbers, Social Security numbers, and birth dates of everyone applying or in your household

How can I get help with my application?

• Contacting your local county office.
• Calling the Medi-Cal Helpline at 1-800-541-5555.
• Visit a Benefits Enrollment Center (BEC), if there’s one near you. See if there’s one in your area.

NCOA also has a HelpLine that you can call to get free support. To get started today, call 1-800-794-6559.