Your Situation
Medicare Help for People With Limited Income
If your income is limited, you don't have to face Medicare costs alone. Several federal and Wisconsin programs can significantly reduce — or even eliminate — your premiums, deductibles, and drug costs.
Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs)
Medicare Savings Programs are state programs administered by Wisconsin Medicaid that help pay your Medicare costs — Part B premiums, and in some cases deductibles and cost-sharing.
| Program | What It Pays | Approximate Income Limit (single) |
|---|---|---|
| QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary) | Part A & B premiums, deductibles, and cost-sharing | ~$1,255/month |
| SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary) | Part B premium only | ~$1,478/month |
| QI (Qualifying Individual) | Part B premium only (first-come, funded limited) | ~$1,660/month |
| QDWI (Qualified Disabled Working Individual) | Part A premium (for certain disabled individuals) | Varies |
Income and asset limits adjust annually. Apply through Wisconsin Medicaid — your local Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) can help with the application process.
Extra Help for Prescription Drugs
Extra Help (also called the Low Income Subsidy, or LIS) is a federal program that can dramatically reduce what you pay for Part D prescription drugs.
What Extra Help covers
- • Reduced or $0 Part D monthly premium
- • Reduced or $0 annual drug deductible
- • Copays as low as a few dollars per prescription
- • No coverage gap — consistent reduced costs all year
How to qualify and apply
- • Income generally at or below ~150% of the Federal Poverty Level
- • Asset limits apply (home and car excluded)
- • Apply through Social Security: ssa.gov or 1-800-772-1213
- • Automatically qualify if you have full Medicaid or MSP
Wisconsin SeniorCare
🧀 Wisconsin-Only Drug Assistance
SeniorCare is a Wisconsin state drug assistance program for residents 65+ with income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. It can significantly reduce prescription drug costs and may serve as a better alternative to Part D for some people.
- • Annual enrollment fee: $30
- • Your drug cost: 5% of the drug's cost, up to $15 maximum per drug
- • Coverage: Broad list of prescription drugs — check that yours qualify
- • SeniorCare can coordinate with or replace Part D depending on your situation
$0 Premium Medicare Advantage Plans
Even if you don't qualify for assistance programs, many Medicare Advantage (MAPD) plans in Wisconsin have $0 monthly premiums. You still pay your Part B premium ($202.90/mo in 2026 at standard income), but you have no additional plan premium on top of that.
Drug coverage included — most MAPD plans include Part D drug coverage at no extra premium.
Extra benefits — many $0 premium plans include dental, vision, hearing, OTC allowances, and fitness memberships.
You pay when you use care — copays and coinsurance apply at the time of service. A $0 premium plan may have higher cost-sharing than a plan with a monthly premium.
Part D – Drug Coverage
How drug coverage works →
Why WI Is Different
SeniorCare and Wisconsin programs →
Talk to an Agent
Free help finding assistance programs →
Not sure what you might qualify for?
We can help you identify assistance programs and find the lowest-cost Medicare coverage available to you in Wisconsin — at no cost to you.
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