Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB)

A SLMB stands for Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary. It is a Medicaid program that helps low-income Medicare beneficiaries pay for their Medicare Part B premiums.

To be eligible for SLMB, an individual must have an income that does not exceed 120% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and have limited resources. The income limit for SLMB for 2021 is $1,456 for an individual and $1,966 for a couple. The resource limit for SLMB is $8,750 for an individual and $13,000 for a couple.

SLMBs are not automatically eligible for extra help with their Medicare prescription drug costs, which is known as the "Low-Income Subsidy" (LIS) but they can apply for it.

SLMBs are not eligible for other benefits such as full Medicaid coverage for Medicare cost-sharing, non-emergency medical transportation, and personal care services.

If you are eligible for SLMB, you will not have to pay for your Medicare Part B premium and you will get Medicaid help with that. But you will still be responsible for other Medicare costs such as deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments.

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