Medicare Premium Payment Program
If you have Medicare, the Medicare Premium Payment (MPP) program, also known as the Medicare Savings Programs (MSP), might help you save money on the cost of premiums, co-payments, and deductibles. There are two MPP programs available in Rhode Island. Based on your income and resources, we can help you understand which one would be a good match for you.
What are the two Medicare Premium Payment programs?
The two Medicare Premium Payment programs are:
- Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB)
- Qualified Individual (QI)
How do I know which program is right for me?
Depending on what your monthly income and resources are, you can apply for a Medicare Premium Payment program that works for you. The table below shows what the monthly income and resource limits are for MPP in 2026.
| Medicaid Premium Payment Program | Who can apply? | Individual monthly income limit | Individual resource limit | Married couple monthly income limit | Married couple resource limit | What does it help pay for? |
| Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) | People 65 or older, and adults with disabilities | $1,683 | $9,950 | $2,275 | $14,910 | Medicare Part A premiums, Medicare Part B premiums, co-payments, and deductibles |
| Qualified Individual (QI) | People 65 or older, and adults with disabilities | $2,255 | $9,950 | $3,050 | $14,910 | Medicare Part B premiums (Funds for this program are limited and eligibility is on a first come, first served basis.) |
NOTE: Rhode Island still offers the Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary Program (SLMB) and the Qualified Disabled & Working Individual (QDWI) programs because they are required by federal law. However, Rhode Island has made some changes to expand eligibility for the Medicare Premium Payment Program. As of February 1, 2026, people who would have qualified for SLMB will now qualify for QMB instead and will be automatically enrolled in the QMB group. People who qualify for QDWI can receive Medicaid through Rhode Island’s Sherlock/Ticket to Work (TTW) programs, which are designed to support working individuals with disabilities.
- Premium: A monthly amount you pay for coverage, whether you get services or not.
- Copayment: A fixed amount you pay for a Medicare-covered service, like $30.
- Deductible: An amount you have to pay for covered services and items each year before Medicare or your plan starts to pay.
A copy of the Medicare Premium Payment program application is available online in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
You can contact your Department of Human Services (DHS) office to apply for the Medicare Premium Payment program. You can also learn more about application options here or follow one of these options:
- Online: Log in or create an account on healthyrhode.ri.gov
- By phone: Call 1-855-697-4347
- By mail: Download and complete the application. Mail it to:
RI Department of Human Services
P.O. Box 8709 Cranston, RI 02920-8787 - In person: Download and complete the application. Drop off your completed application in a secure drop box at any DHS office
- View and download the Medicare Premium Payment program application in English, Spanish, or Portuguese.
- Flyers with information about programs that can help you with your Medicare costs are available from the Office of Healthy Aging. Click the links to download them in English | Spanish | Portuguese
- The federal government has information about the Medicare Savings Program online here.
- Call or visit the Aging and Disability Resource Center at 401-462-4444 to talk with an application support specialist today.
- The RI Office of Healthy Aging can help connect you with additional community support. To learn more, visit their website here.