Connecticut’s QMB income limit is $2,752 per month for one person and $3,719 per month for a married couple, effective March 1, 2025.1CT.gov. Medicare Savings Program-Eligibility Those thresholds are measured against gross monthly income, and Connecticut does not apply an asset or resource test. If you fall under the limit, the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary program pays your Medicare Part B premium, covers your Part A and Part B deductibles and coinsurance, and automatically enrolls you in Extra Help for prescription drugs.
The Current Income Limits
- Individual: $2,752 per month in gross income
- Married couple: $3,719 per month in combined gross income
Connecticut’s limits sit well above the federal floor. The federal government only requires states to cover QMB applicants up to 100 percent of the poverty level, which works out to roughly $1,350 per month for an individual after the standard $20 income disregard.2SSA. Medicare Savings Programs Income and Resource Limits Connecticut has chosen to extend eligibility to more than double that figure, so people turned away in other states often qualify here.
How Connecticut Counts Your Income
Eligibility is based on gross income from all sources: Social Security, pensions, investment income, and wages.1CT.gov. Medicare Savings Program-Eligibility Not all wage income counts in full, though. If you are still working, a portion of your earned income is excluded from the calculation, which can bring you under the limit even when your pay stub looks higher than $2,752.
If you are married, your spouse’s income counts toward the couple limit regardless of whether your spouse is Medicare-eligible yet.3Connecticut Social Services. Medicare Savings Program-FAQ Income from other people living in your household — adult children, siblings, roommates — does not count. If you are single or your spouse lives separately, you are measured against the individual limit.
No Asset Test
Connecticut does not look at your savings, home, or investments when deciding whether you qualify.3Connecticut Social Services. Medicare Savings Program-FAQ Many states cap assets for their Medicare Savings Programs; Connecticut does not. A retiree with a paid-off house and a modest nest egg can still qualify as long as monthly income is under the threshold.
When the Limits Change
The Connecticut Department of Social Services updates QMB income limits each year, typically effective March 1, based on federal poverty level revisions. The 2026 federal poverty level is $15,960 per year for one person and $21,640 for a two-person household,4ASPE. 2026 Poverty Guidelines – 48 Contiguous States and new Connecticut limits reflecting those figures are expected around March 2026. The current $2,752 and $3,719 numbers remain in force until DSS publishes the update.
Who Else Needs to Qualify
Beyond the income limit, you must be a Connecticut resident and either enrolled in Medicare Part A or eligible for it, which generally means you are 65 or older or qualify through disability.3Connecticut Social Services. Medicare Savings Program-FAQ You do not have to already be enrolled in Part A to apply. If you lack enough work credits for premium-free Part A, QMB can actually pay the Part A premium for you.1CT.gov. Medicare Savings Program-Eligibility
What Qualifying Gets You
QMB is the most comprehensive of Connecticut’s three Medicare Savings Programs. It pays:
- Your Medicare Part B premium, which is $202.90 per month in 20265CMS. 2026 Medicare Parts A and B Premiums and Deductibles
- Your Part A premium, if you owe one ($311 or $565 per month in 2026, depending on work history)6Medicare. Costs
- Your Part A and Part B deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments, up to the Medicaid-approved rate1CT.gov. Medicare Savings Program-Eligibility
Under federal law, once you are enrolled in QMB you have no legal obligation to pay Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, or copayments, and providers are prohibited from billing you for them.7Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Program Group
QMB enrollment also automatically qualifies you for Medicare’s Extra Help program, which lowers Part D prescription drug costs.8Medicare.gov. Medicare’s Extra Help Program You do not file a separate application. Medicare mails a purple notice confirming your Extra Help status.
If Your Income Is Over the QMB Limit
Connecticut runs two other Medicare Savings Programs with higher income ceilings. Both pay only your Part B premium — not your deductibles or coinsurance — but that is still a savings of $202.90 per month, and both also trigger automatic Extra Help enrollment.1CT.gov. Medicare Savings Program-Eligibility
- SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary): up to $3,013/month individual, $4,072/month couple
- ALMB (Additional Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary): up to $3,209/month individual, $4,336/month couple
How to Apply
Applications go to the Connecticut Department of Social Services on form W-1QMB, available on the DSS website or at any regional office.9CT.gov. Medicare Savings Program-Apply Have these documents ready:10CT.gov. Medicare Savings Program Medicare Buy-In Process for 2024
- Proof of identity and date of birth
- Proof of Connecticut address
- Your Medicare card or Part B enrollment receipt
- Proof of all earned and unearned income (pay stubs, pension statements, Social Security benefit letter, tax returns)
You can file three ways:11Connecticut Social Services. Resource Center Locations
- Online through the ConneCT portal at connect.ct.gov
- By mail to the DSS Scanning Center, PO Box 1320, Manchester, CT 06045
- In person at any DSS regional office, including after-hours drop boxes
Once DSS confirms you meet the requirements, QMB coverage begins the first day of the following month.12Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Chapter 1 – Program Overview and Policy An April approval, for example, means benefits start May 1.