By Marc Gilman
📞 Call (800) 927-9326 or (603) 493-1394 | ✉️
We’re hosting a series of free educational events at your building this fall to talk about programs that help pay for Medicare costs — premiums, deductibles, and prescription drugs. Before we get there, here’s a simple tip sheet covering what these programs are and why it’s worth five minutes to find out if you qualify.
Key Takeaways
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Nationally, nearly 6 in 10 people who qualify for help paying Medicare costs aren’t enrolled — often because they don’t know the programs exist.
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These programs can pay your Medicare Part B premium, eliminate your deductibles and copays, and cut prescription drug costs to just a few dollars per prescription.
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Your home, your car, and your personal belongings are never counted against you when applying.
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There’s no cost and no penalty to apply, even if you’re not sure you qualify.
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We’ll be at your building this fall to answer questions and help you figure out where you stand — no obligation, no pressure.
1. There’s help with your Medicare Part B premium
Medicare Savings Programs are state-run programs that can pay your Medicare Part B premium every month. In New Hampshire, this program is sometimes called by a different name for one tier (SLMB-135), but it works the same way: if your income falls under a certain monthly limit, the state pays your Part B premium for you, which puts real money back in your pocket every single month.
Based on the 2026 federal poverty guidelines and New Hampshire’s own program rules, the approximate monthly income limits for a single person are: $1,350 for QMB, $1,616 for SLMB, and $1,816 for QI (called SLMB-135 in NH) — with higher limits for couples. These reflect New Hampshire’s standard $20/month income disregard applied to the federal thresholds. Your specific situation can still shift the actual number that applies to you (for example, some income doesn’t count at all), so treat these as a starting point, not a hard cutoff — the only way to know for sure is to apply or ask us directly.
2. The top tier covers even more
The most comprehensive version of this program, called QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary), can cover your Part B premium and protect you from being billed for Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments altogether. If you qualify for QMB, providers are not allowed to bill you for Medicare-covered services — that protection is federal law.
3. There’s separate help just for prescription costs
Extra Help (also called the Low-Income Subsidy) is a different program that specifically lowers what you pay for Medicare prescription drug coverage. In 2026, if you qualify, your prescription drug premium and deductible can drop to $0, and your copays are capped at just a few dollars per prescription — no matter how many medications you take. For 2026, the income limit is $23,475 for an individual or $31,725 for a married couple, and resources (savings, investments) must be under $18,090 for an individual or $36,100 for a couple.
4. Your home and car don’t count against you
A lot of people assume they’ll be disqualified because they own their home or have a car. That’s not how it works. When these programs look at your resources, they don’t count your primary residence, your vehicle, your personal belongings, or your life insurance. They’re looking at things like bank accounts, stocks, and investments — not everything you own.
5. Applying costs nothing and there’s no penalty for trying
There’s no fee to apply, and nothing bad happens if it turns out you don’t qualify. Many people qualify for more help than they realize, especially after a life change — the loss of a spouse, reduced income, or new medical expenses can all shift what you’re eligible for. The only real cost is the paperwork you’ll never file if you don’t try.
What To Do Next
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Come to our event at your building. We’ll walk through these programs in plain language and help you understand where you might stand — no pressure, no obligation.
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Bring a rough idea of your income and savings, if you’re comfortable, so we can talk through specifics if you’d like.
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Ask questions. This is exactly what these events are for.
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If you want to apply on your own beforehand or afterward, New Hampshire’s official application portal is NH EASY, where a single application covers Medicaid, Medicare Savings Programs, and Extra Help together. It’s available online daily from 6 a.m. to midnight. You can also call DHHS Customer Service directly at 1-844-ASK-DHHS (1-844-275-3447).
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If you can’t make it to the event, call or email us directly and we’ll walk you through it one-on-one.
📞 Call (800) 927-9326 or (603) 493-1394, or email with any questions before the event.
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