Ohio's 2026 limits at a glance
Ohio calls its Medicare Savings Programs the Medicare Premium Assistance Programs. The rule, OAC 5160:1-3-02.1, ties each program to a percentage of the federal poverty level (FPL). These monthly limits for countable income include the 20-dollar general income disregard:
| Program (what it pays) | One person | Married couple |
|---|---|---|
| QMB, up to 100% FPL (Part A and B premiums plus cost sharing) | $1,350 | $1,824 |
| SLMB, over 100% up to 120% FPL (Part B premium) | $1,616 | $2,184 |
| QI-1, over 120% up to 135% FPL (Part B premium) | $1,816 | $2,455 |
For all three, countable resources must be no more than $9,950 for one person or $14,910 for a couple, the 2026 MPAP resource limit in ODM's Medicaid Eligibility Procedure Letter No. 191. QDWI, for working people under 65 with a disability, allows income up to 200 percent of the FPL but only twice the SSI resource limit.
How Ohio counts your income
- Gross Social Security. Count your benefit before the Part B premium is taken out.
- The 20-dollar disregard. Ohio subtracts it once per person, or once per married couple.
- Work income. Ohio applies the SSI earned-income exclusions, so much less than all of a paycheck counts.
- Couples. If you're married and live together, your income and your spouse's are added together and compared with the couple limit.
Two right answers. ODM's "2026 Monthly Financial Eligibility" chart shows QMB at the raw 100 percent FPL amount, 20 dollars below the figure above. Medicare.gov and this page add the disregard in. If you see a third set of numbers on another website, trust ODM and Medicare.gov.
If you're close to a limit
Apply anyway. Your county Job and Family Services office decides what counts, and some income and assets are excluded. Our savings programs calculator gives a quick estimate, and Medicare Savings Programs in Ohio covers what each program pays. If you're over every MSP limit, check Extra Help, which has higher limits. To review Medicare coverage from the companies they work with, you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent.
Related questions
What assets count for Medicare Savings Programs in Ohio?
What's counted and what isn't.
QMB vs. SLMB vs. QI in Ohio
What each program pays.
How do I apply for a Medicare Savings Program in Ohio?
Online, by phone or at your county.
Sources
- Ohio Administrative Code — Rule 5160:1-3-02.1, Medicare premium assistance programs (MPAP)
- Ohio Department of Medicaid — 2026 Monthly Financial Eligibility, Aged, Blind, or Disabled Individuals (PDF)
- Ohio Department of Medicaid — MEPL No. 191, 2026 COLA and MPAP resource limit (PDF)
- Medicare.gov — Medicare Savings Programs (2026 limits)
More questions in this guide
- Can a doctor bill me if I have QMB?
- How do I apply for a Medicare Savings Program in Ohio?
- How do I apply for Extra Help with Medicare drug costs in Ohio?
- What is the difference between QMB, SLMB and QI in Ohio?
- What assets count for Medicare Savings Programs in Ohio?
- What is QMB in Ohio?
- What is the Medicare Premium Assistance Program in Ohio?
Part of the guide: Medicare Savings Programs in Ohio · All questions
Frequently asked questions
Has Ohio raised its limits above the federal minimum?
No. Ohio's rule, OAC 5160:1-3-02.1, sets QMB at 100 percent, SLMB at up to 120 percent and QI-1 at up to 135 percent of the federal poverty level, the federal minimums. Some states go higher; Ohio does not.
Why does Ohio Medicaid's chart show lower numbers?
ODM's 2026 eligibility chart lists the poverty-level amounts themselves. Ohio then subtracts a 20-dollar general income exclusion from your income before comparing, so the limits on this page, which include the 20 dollars, describe the same test.
Does my Social Security raise in January count?
Not right away. Ohio's rule disregards the January cost-of-living raise until the month after the new federal poverty guidelines are published, so the COLA alone shouldn't end your help in January.
Are the limits higher for 2027?
The 2027 limits aren't out yet. They follow the federal poverty guidelines, which HHS publishes early each year, and the asset limit, which ODM updates each January.
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