Qualifying Individual (QI)
A Qualifying Individual, or QI, is a Medicaid program that helps low-income Medicare beneficiaries pay for their Medicare Part B premiums.
To be eligible for QI, an individual must have an income that does not exceed 135% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and have limited resources. The income limit for QI for 2021 is $1,608 for an individual and $2,174 for a couple. The resource limit for QI is $14,610 for an individual and $19,390 for a couple.
QIs 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.
QIs 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 QI, 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.
It is worth noting that QI program is a limited benefit program and it's funding is on a first-come, first-served basis.
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