The Golden Years

Miami-Dade County · Free Community Service

Medicare Savings Program:
Free Help Applying in Florida

Florida may pay your Medicare premiums, deductibles, and copays — at no cost to you. As an ACCESS Florida community partner, we help Miami-Dade seniors apply. Millions qualify and don't know it.

Call 305-832-1104 How to Apply ↓
$7,500+
Potential annual savings with QMB
$0
Cost to apply — ever
4
Programs available in Florida

What Is MSP?

Medicare Savings Programs pay what Medicare doesn't.

The Medicare Savings Program (MSP) is a set of Florida programs administered by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) that help people with limited income pay for Medicare — premiums, deductibles, and sometimes copays.

If you qualify for QMB, SLMB, or QI, you automatically qualify for Extra Help — federal assistance that can save up to $5,300/year on Part D drug costs. No separate application needed.

Get free help → 305-832-1104
We are an ACCESS Florida Partner

Golden Years is an official community partner with Florida's ACCESS program. We help seniors understand their options and complete their MSP applications — free, in English and Spanish.

Who qualifies?
✓ Age 65+ or eligible for Medicare due to disability
✓ Enrolled in or eligible for Medicare Part A
✓ Florida resident with limited income
✓ Assets under $9,950 (home & car excluded)

The 4 Florida MSP Programs (2026)

QMB is the most comprehensive. Each program has different income limits and covers different costs.

QMB
Most Comprehensive
Qualified Medicare Beneficiary
Individual: ≤$1,330/mo · Couple: ≤$1,803/mo
✓ Part A premium — paid by state
✓ Part B premium ($202.90/mo) — paid by state
✓ Part A & B deductibles — paid by state
✓ Copays & coinsurance — paid by state
✓ Auto-qualifies for Extra Help (Part D)
Saves up to $7,500+/year
Don't have 40 work credits? QMB still covers you.

If you have fewer than 40 work credits, you can still enroll in Medicare Part A by paying a monthly premium — and QMB will pay that premium for you. This must be done by phone through a special process called "Conditional Part A."

Call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 and say: "I am applying for Conditional Part A because I have fewer than 40 work credits and I am applying for the QMB program through Florida Medicaid."

If the agent seems unsure, ask them to look up POMS HI 00801.140 — the federal policy covering this exact situation. Golden Years can help you prepare for this call.

See the full step-by-step process ↓
SLMB
Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary
Individual: ≤$1,596/mo · Couple: ≤$2,164/mo
✓ Part B premium ($202.90/mo) — paid by state
– Deductibles — not covered
– Copays & coinsurance — not covered
✓ Auto-qualifies for Extra Help (Part D)
Saves $2,220/year on Part B alone
QI
Qualifying Individual
Individual: ≤$1,796/mo · Couple: ≤$2,435/mo
✓ Part B premium ($202.90/mo) — paid by state
– Deductibles — not covered
– Copays & coinsurance — not covered
✓ Auto-qualifies for Extra Help (Part D)
⚠ Must re-apply every year (limited slots)
Saves $2,220/year — reapply annually
QDWI — Qualified Disabled & Working Individual
Individual: ≤$2,660/mo · Couple: ≤$3,607/mo · Asset limit: $4,000/$6,000
✓ Part A premium only — paid by state
– Part B, deductibles, copays — not covered
– Does NOT auto-qualify for Extra Help
For disabled individuals who returned to work

2026 Income & Asset Limits

Social Security income exclusions may lower your countable income. Call us to check.

Program Individual/mo Couple/mo Asset limit
QMB ≤$1,330 ≤$1,803 $9,950
SLMB ≤$1,596 ≤$2,164 $9,950
QI ≤$1,796 ≤$2,435 $9,950
QDWI ≤$2,660 ≤$3,607 $4,000 / $6,000

Income limits are gross monthly. Your home, one car, and burial funds are excluded from the asset test.

How to Apply in Florida

We walk alongside you for every step — at no cost.

1
Call us first

Call Golden Years at 305-832-1104. We'll check which program you likely qualify for before you gather a single document.

2
Gather documents

Medicare card, proof of income (Social Security letter or pay stub), recent bank statements, and Florida ID. Fewer than 40 work credits? Call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 first to request Conditional Part A.

3
Apply via DCF

We help you apply online at access.florida.gov or by calling 1-866-762-2237. We review every field before submission.

4
Wait ~30–45 days

Florida DCF processes applications in roughly 30–45 days. Benefits are retroactive to your application month if approved.

Frequently Asked Questions

No — MSP works alongside your existing Medicare, whether Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan. It simply helps pay your costs.
No — MSP is a separate program from full Medicaid, with its own income and asset limits. Many people qualify for MSP without qualifying for Medicaid.
Usually not. Your primary home, one car, and burial funds are excluded from the asset test. Call us — the rules have more nuance than most people realize.
Yes — but the process requires a special step. You must call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 and ask to schedule a phone appointment to apply for "Conditional Part A and Part B." During the appointment, say exactly: "I am applying for Conditional Part A because I have fewer than 40 work credits and I am applying for the QMB program through Florida Medicaid."

If the agent seems unfamiliar, ask them to look up POMS Section HI 00801.140 — the federal policy (updated Jan 2025) that covers this exact process. Golden Years can help you prepare for this call.
Yes, you can submit both applications on the same day — but complete them in this order to avoid processing errors.

1. Call SSA first. Complete your phone appointment for Conditional Part A before doing anything else.

2. Get your receipt number. Ask the SSA representative for a confirmation or application receipt number.

3. Apply to ACCESS Florida second. Submit your Florida DCF application right after your SSA call.

Why this order matters: Florida DCF needs proof that you have an active, pending Conditional Part A application. The ACCESS Florida application asks whether you have applied for Medicare, so you can answer “Yes” and provide your SSA details. Applying to Florida first can result in a denial because Medicare is not yet on file.
Apply anyway. Florida excludes the first $20 of most income and the first $65 of earned income before calculating your countable income — so your real number is often lower than you think. Call us and we'll check together.
Never. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and an ACCESS Florida community partner. All of our MSP navigation services are completely free to Miami-Dade seniors.

Think you might qualify? Let's find out together.

We check your eligibility and help you apply — free, in English and Spanish. No obligation. No plan sales. Just help.

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