Oregon's limits by program
| Program (Oregon name) | Income limit | What it pays |
|---|---|---|
| Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) | Up to 100% of the federal poverty level | Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles and coinsurance |
| Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB; Oregon's SMB) | Up to 120% | Part B premium |
| Qualifying Individual (QI; Oregon's SMF benefit) | From 120% to 135% | Part B premium |
| Qualified Disabled Working Individual (QDWI) | Up to 200% | Part A premium only |
ODHS publishes the monthly dollar limits for one person and for a couple on its Medicare Savings Programs page. Check that chart before you apply: the amounts change every March.
What's different in Oregon
- No asset test. Oregon eliminated the resource limits for QMB, SLMB and QI effective January 1, 2016. Savings, a home or a car don't count. See does Oregon have an asset limit.
- QI is capped. ODHS says QI enrollment is limited each year and it must close enrollment if it reaches the cap. People who qualify for other Oregon Medicaid benefits can't get QI.
- QDWI is rare. ODHS notes that most working Oregonians with disabilities use Employed Persons with Disabilities (EPD), which gives full Medicaid benefits, instead.
- You need Part A. ODHS lists Medicare Part A as a requirement.
If your income is close to a limit
Apply anyway. ODHS decides what counts as income under Oregon's rules, and the result may differ from your own math. A Medicare Savings Program also gives you Extra Help with Part D automatically. Extra Help's own income limit is higher, about 150% of the poverty level ($23,940 a year for one person in 2026), but it has a resource limit, so if your savings are too high for Extra Help, an Oregon Medicare Savings Program may still get you there.
To apply, use one.oregon.gov or call 1-800-699-9075 (TTY 711). ODHS says it tells you within 45 days. If you'd like help seeing how Medicare plans fit with your savings program, you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent.
Related questions
How do I apply for a Medicare Savings Program?
Online, by phone or in person.
Does Oregon have an asset limit?
No, since 2016.
How do I get Extra Help with drug costs?
Automatic for many Oregonians.
Sources
- Oregon Department of Human Services — Medicare Savings Programs (limits for March 2026 to February 2027)
- Oregon Department of Human Services — Transmittal APD-PT-21-041 (resource limits eliminated January 1, 2016)
- Oregon Administrative Rules — OAR 461-160-0015, resource limits
- Medicare.gov — Medicare Savings Programs
- Medicare.gov — Help with drug costs (Extra Help)
More questions in this guide
- Will Oregon take my house if I get help paying for Medicare?
- Does Oregon have an asset limit for Medicare Savings Programs?
- How do I apply for a Medicare Savings Program in Oregon?
- How do I get Extra Help paying for prescription drugs in Oregon?
Part of the guide: Medicare Savings Programs in Oregon · All questions
Frequently asked questions
When do Oregon's Medicare Savings Program limits change?
Each March, after the federal poverty guidelines are updated. ODHS's current chart applies from March 2026 through February 2027.
Do I have to have Medicare Part A?
Yes. ODHS says you must have Medicare Part A to qualify for a Medicare Savings Program.
Is there a limit on savings or property?
No. ODHS says there are no asset limits for these programs in Oregon, and Oregon's rule excludes all resources for QMB, SLMB and QI.
Why do national charts show different dollar amounts?
Medicare.gov publishes national figures that can differ slightly from a state's chart. In Oregon, ODHS decides eligibility with its own chart, so use that one.
Medicare in your Oregon county
Plans, local agents and help, county by county: Multnomah · Washington · Clackamas · Lane · Marion · Jackson · Deschutes · Linn · Douglas · Yamhill · Benton · Polk · Josephine · Umatilla · Klamath · Coos · Columbia · Lincoln · Clatsop · Malheur · All 36 counties →
