To qualify for a New York Medicare Savings Program in 2026, your monthly income must fall under the limit set for the specific program you’re applying to: $1,856 for a single person or $2,509 for a couple under the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program, and $2,494 for a single person or $3,375 for a couple under the Qualifying Individual (QI) program. New York does not count savings or other assets for either of these programs, and its income ceilings sit well above the federal minimums.
2026 Monthly Income Limits by Program
New York sets each program’s income cutoff as a percentage of the federal poverty level, which for 2026 is $15,960 per year for one person and $21,640 for a two-person household.
QMB uses 138% of the federal poverty level, higher than the 100% federal floor. For 2026 that produces:
- Individual: $1,856 per month
- Couple: $2,509 per month
QI uses 186% of the federal poverty level, again above the 135% federal floor:
- Individual: $2,494 per month
- Couple: $3,375 per month
A third program, Qualified Disabled and Working Individuals (QDWI), uses 200% of the federal poverty level. New York’s 2025 QDWI limits were $2,510 for individuals and $3,407 for couples, and the 2026 figures will be slightly higher once the state publishes its updated chart.1New York State Department of Health. New York State Income and Resource Standards for Non-MAGI Population Effective January 1, 2025 QDWI is limited to people under 65 who lost their free Part A coverage after returning to work with a disabling condition.2Social Security Administration. Qualified Disabled Working Individuals
All three limits already incorporate a $20 monthly income disregard that Medicaid automatically subtracts from gross income. In practical terms, the number in your Social Security or pension statement is what gets compared against the figures above.3New York State Department of Health. Medicare Savings Program 2025
How New York Counts Your Income
Countable income includes Social Security benefits, pensions, wages, and investment income. But the number the state compares to the limit is not necessarily your gross income. New York allows you to deduct out-of-pocket premiums you pay for:
- Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policies
- Part D prescription drug plans
- Dental and vision insurance
- Long-term care insurance
Those premiums come off the top before the state looks at whether you’re under the threshold. Say your gross monthly income is $1,900 and you pay $150 a month for a Medigap policy. Your countable income drops to $1,750, which puts you inside the QMB limit. Many applicants assume they’re over the line when they actually qualify once the deductions are applied.
Two things do not count as deductible premiums: the Medicare Part B premium itself, and any income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA) surcharge withheld from your Social Security check.
Savings and Assets Don’t Count for QMB or QI
New York imposes no asset or resource limit on QMB or QI.3New York State Department of Health. Medicare Savings Program 2025 Bank accounts, retirement funds, brokerage holdings, and property have no effect on your eligibility for these two programs. Only your monthly income matters.
QDWI is the exception. It has resource limits of $4,000 for individuals and $6,000 for couples, though the home you live in, one car, and certain insurance policies don’t count toward the total.1New York State Department of Health. New York State Income and Resource Standards for Non-MAGI Population Effective January 1, 20252Social Security Administration. Qualified Disabled Working Individuals
What You Get at Each Income Level
The three programs pay for different pieces of Medicare, so the limit you fall under determines the size of the benefit.
QMB is the most comprehensive. If your income puts you under the QMB threshold, the program pays your Part A premium (if you owe one), your Part B premium, and all deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments for Medicare-covered services. Federal law bars providers from billing QMB enrollees for those cost-sharing charges, so if a doctor or hospital sends you a copay bill while you’re on QMB, you have no obligation to pay it.4Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Program Group
QI pays only the Part B premium, which is $202.90 per month in 2026, or $2,434.80 over the year.5Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 2026 Medicare Parts A and B Premiums and Deductibles3New York State Department of Health. Medicare Savings Program 2025 You remain responsible for deductibles and cost-sharing. You must already have Part A to qualify, and you can’t be on Medicaid at the same time.
QDWI pays only the Part A premium, which can run as high as $565 per month in 2026 for people who don’t get it free through their work history.6Medicare. 2026 Medicare Costs
Extra Help Comes Automatically
Qualifying for any of the three programs automatically enrolls you in Extra Help, the federal Low-Income Subsidy that cuts prescription drug costs under Medicare Part D.7Medicare. Help With Drug Costs – Section: Who Gets Extra Help Automatically You don’t file a separate application.
In 2026, Extra Help eliminates the Part D premium and deductible. Copays are capped at $5.10 for generics and $12.65 for brand-name drugs, and once your total drug costs reach $2,100 for the year, you pay nothing for the rest of the year. If you qualify for QMB and also have full Medicaid, the cap drops to $4.90 per covered drug.8Medicare. Help With Drug Costs
Applying If You’re Under the Limit
The application is form DOH-4328, available from the New York State Department of Health website.9New York State Department of Health. Medicare Savings Program (MSP) It has to be printed and signed by hand.
Gather these before you file:
- Proof of income, such as a Social Security award letter, recent pay stubs, or pension statements
- A copy of your Medicare card
- Proof of identity and New York residency, such as a driver’s license, birth certificate, or utility bill
- Statements showing what you pay for Medigap, Part D, or other deductible health premiums, since those reduce your countable income
For QMB or QI, you don’t need to submit bank or investment statements. QDWI applicants do, because that program has resource limits.
Mail or hand-deliver the application to your local Department of Social Services. In New York City, MSP-only applications go to the HRA Medical Assistance Program at PO Box 24390, Brooklyn, NY 11202-9814.10Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services. Medicare Savings Program Outside the city, use your county’s DSS address. The agency has 45 days to decide.11Clinton County New York. How to Complete the Medicare Savings Program Application – DOH-4328
QMB coverage begins the first day of the month after your application is approved, with no retroactive reimbursement.12Medicaid.gov. Implementation Guide – Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries QI can reimburse Part B premiums you paid during up to three months before your effective date, as long as those months are in the same calendar year as your approval.