See If You May Qualify for Savings

The monthly premium is not the only cost. Extra Help can lower Part D drug costs, and you apply through Social Security. A Medicare Savings Program can pay the Part B premium. In California you apply through Medi-Cal, and the county decides whether you qualify.

Extra Help through Social Security
A Medicare Savings Program through Medi-Cal
Medi-Cal through the county

Get My Medicare Answers

Programs we’ll review

Medicare Savings Programs

Can pay the Part B premium. In California, apply through Medi-Cal.

Extra Help (Part D)

Can lower Part D drug costs. Apply through Social Security.

Medi-Cal

California’s Medicaid program. The county decides whether you qualify.

For the other pages on this topic, open the Find Ways to Lower My Medicare Costs guide.

Screener

Extra Help screener

See whether 2026 Extra Help income and resource limits might apply. Social Security decides.

Read: Can I pay less for Medicare?

Extra Help is Medicare’s Part D Low-Income Subsidy. It may lower or eliminate the drug-plan premium and deductible, cap many copays, and pause a Part D late-enrollment penalty while you have Extra Help. Social Security decides. This website cannot say that you qualify.

2026 income limit (individual): $23,940.00 a year ($1,995.00 a month)
2026 resource limit (individual): $18,090.00 (includes the usual burial set-aside on the Medicare.gov postcard)
2026 Extra Help copay maximums: up to $5.10 generic / $12.65 brand per covered 30-day fill, then often $0 after the yearly Part D out-of-pocket cap

HouseholdIncome periodYearly income (before taxes)Social Security, pensions, wages, and similar countable income. Confirm what Social Security counts.Countable resourcesBank accounts, stocks, and extra property usually count. Home, household items, and usually one car do not. Confirm with Social Security.I have Medi-Cal / Medicaid or a Medicare Savings Program (QMB, SLMB, or QI).

Enter income and resources — or check Medi-Cal / MSP — to see this 2026 estimate. Leave a field blank to treat it as $0.

How to apply. Use SSA.gov/extrahelp, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), or visit Medicare.gov/extrahelp. For QMB, SLMB, or QI (which often lead to Extra Help), use the Medicare Savings Programs screener.

Screener

Medicare Savings Programs screener

California 2026 QMB, SLMB, and QI estimate. Apply through Medi-Cal.

Read: Can I pay less for Medicare?

Medicare Savings Programs are Medi-Cal programs that may pay your Part B premium — and, for QMB, certain Medicare deductibles and copays. This estimate uses California DHCS 2026 figures. The county decides. This website cannot say that you qualify.

QMB — may pay Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles, and copays (limit $1,330.00 / $1,804.00 a month)
SLMB — may pay the Part B premium (limit $1,596.00 / $2,165.00)
QI — may pay the Part B premium; limited slots; generally not combined with full Medi-Cal (limit $1,796.00 / $2,436.00)

HouseholdMonthly income (before taxes)California 2026 published monthly limits (individual): QMB $1,330.00, SLMB $1,596.00, QI $1,796.00. This estimate subtracts the usual $20 general disregard.Countable resources (bank accounts, cash, extra vehicles)California 2026 resource limit (individual): $130,000.00. Your home and usually one car do not count. Confirm with Medi-Cal.

Enter income and resources to see which program this 2026 estimate is closest to. Leave a field blank to treat it as $0.

How to apply. Use BenefitsCal, your county social services office, or DHCS Medicare Savings Programs. In Los Angeles County, call Aging & Disabilities at 800-510-2020 or California HICAP at 1-800-434-0222 (TTY 711).

Screener

Medi-Cal screener (65+ / disabled)

California 2026 Aged & Disabled estimate for people with Medicare. Apply through the county.

Read: Can I pay less for Medicare?

This estimate is for Californians who are 65 or older, or who meet Social Security’s disability rules — the usual path for people who already have Medicare. It is not MAGI Medi-Cal for adults under 65. The county decides. This website cannot say that you qualify.

Aged & Disabled FPL (no share of cost): 138% FPL — $1,836.00 / $2,490.00 a month (April 2026 DHCS chart)
Resource limit: $130,000.00 individual / $195,000.00 couple (reinstated January 1, 2026)
Over the A&D FPL income limit, Medi-Cal with a share of cost may still be possible. This tool does not calculate a share-of-cost dollar amount.

HouseholdI am 65 or older, or I meet Social Security’s definition of disability.I receive SSI (Supplemental Security Income).Monthly income (before taxes)A&D FPL limit (individual): $1,836.00. This estimate subtracts the usual $20 general disregard.Countable resources2026 California non- resource limit (individual): $130,000.00. Home and usually one car do not count. SSI-linked Medi-Cal uses a much lower SSI resource test.

Enter income and resources to see which 2026 path this estimate is closest to. Leave a field blank to treat it as $0.

How to apply. Use BenefitsCal or your county social services office. Read DHCS Medi-Cal. In Los Angeles County, call Aging & Disabilities at 800-510-2020 or California HICAP at 1-800-434-0222 (TTY 711). For Part B premium help only, use the Medicare Savings Programs screener.

CalculatorIRMAA (higher-income premium)See 2026 Part B and Part D IRMAA using 2024 MAGI brackets from CMS.ScreenerExtra Help copay estimate2026 Extra Help is generally full Extra Help. Compare copay levels — including $0 after the cap.

Extra Help screener

See whether 2026 Extra Help income and resource limits might apply. Social Security decides.

Medicare Savings Programs screener

California 2026 QMB, SLMB, and QI estimate. Apply through Medi-Cal.

Medi-Cal screener (65+ / disabled)

California 2026 Aged & Disabled estimate for people with Medicare. Apply through the county.