Quick answers
- What is SoonerCare Supplemental?
- OHCA's name for Oklahoma's Medicare Savings Programs: QMBP, SLMB, QI-1 and QDWI, which help pay Medicare premiums and, for QMBP, cost sharing.
- What is the QMBP income limit in 2026?
- $1,350 a month for one person and $1,824 for a married couple, per OKDHS Appendix C-1.
- Does Oklahoma have an asset test?
- Yes. Resources must be no more than $9,950 for one person or $14,910 for a couple for QMBP, SLMB and QI-1 in 2026.
- Where do I apply?
- Through Oklahoma Human Services (OKDHS): online at OKDHSLive.org, at your county Human Services Center, or with the paper Request for Benefits form.
- Do I get Extra Help too?
- Yes. Everyone approved for QMBP, SLMB or QI-1 gets Extra Help with Part D drug costs automatically.
What does each Oklahoma program pay?
Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) are run by each state's Medicaid program. In Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) calls them SoonerCare Supplemental, and Oklahoma Human Services (OKDHS) decides who qualifies. There are four programs:
| Program | What it pays | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| QMBP (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Plus) | Medicare Part A and Part B premiums, plus Medicare deductibles and coinsurance | Oklahoma's name for QMB; can start up to 3 months before the month you apply |
| SLMB (Specified Low Income Medicare Beneficiary) | Part B premium | You must have Part A; can start up to 3 months back, but not before Part A |
| QI-1 (Qualifying Individual) | Part B premium | Not available if you qualify for full SoonerCare; funding is limited each federal fiscal year |
| QDWI (Qualified Disabled and Working Individual) | Part A premium | For some people under 65 with a disability who work and must buy Part A |
OHCA pays these premiums directly to Medicare through what its rules call the Part A and Part B buy-in. The Part B premium is $202.90 a month in 2026; once the buy-in starts, it stops coming out of your Social Security check, which can take a few months. For QMBP, the cost-sharing help matters just as much: providers who accept Medicare may not bill a Qualified Medicare Beneficiary for Medicare-covered deductibles, coinsurance or copays, including the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026) and the Part A hospital deductible ($1,736 per benefit period in 2026). Show your Medicare card and your SoonerCare card at every visit.
What are the income and resource limits in Oklahoma?
OKDHS publishes Oklahoma's limits in Appendix C-1, Schedules VI, VII and VII.A. The July 1, 2026 edition matches the federal limits Medicare.gov publishes for 2026. "Countable" income is figured after a small 20-dollar general disregard, which these limits already include, and some other income doesn't count.
| Program (Appendix C-1 schedule) | Monthly income, one person | Monthly income, married couple | Resources, one person | Resources, married couple |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QMBP (Schedule VI, 100% of poverty level) | $1,350 | $1,824 | $9,950 | $14,910 |
| SLMB (Schedule VII, 120%) | $1,616 | $2,184 | $9,950 | $14,910 |
| QI-1 (Schedule VII.A, 135%) | $1,816 | $2,455 | $9,950 | $14,910 |
QDWI (Schedule V) has a higher income limit, 200 percent of the poverty level plus the 20-dollar disregard and an earned income deduction, but a much lower resource limit: double the SSI resource standard. Countable resources include things like bank accounts and investments; your home and one car generally don't count. Limits change each year, so check the current Appendix C-1.
Tip: Close to a limit? Apply anyway. OKDHS decides what counts, and our savings programs calculator can give you a quick estimate first.
Extra Help with drug costs
Extra Help (the Part D Low-Income Subsidy) is a federal program that lowers Medicare drug costs. It is separate from the Medicare Savings Programs, but connected in two ways:
- Automatic for MSP members. Medicare.gov says people with full Medicaid, a Medicare Savings Program or SSI automatically qualify for Extra Help.
- Apply at Social Security if you don't have an MSP. In 2026 you may qualify with yearly income below about $23,940 for one person or $32,460 for a married couple, and resources up to $16,590 ($33,100 for a couple), or $18,090 and $36,100 if you expect to use some savings for burial. Those limits are higher than Oklahoma's MSP limits, so some Oklahomans qualify for Extra Help but not an MSP. Apply at SSA.gov or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213.
With Extra Help in 2026, you pay no more than $5.10 for each generic drug and $12.65 for each brand-name drug. Full SoonerCare members with income at or below 100 percent of the poverty level pay no more than $1.60 and $4.90. Every Part D enrollee also has a $2,100 yearly cap on out-of-pocket drug costs in 2026.
- No late enrollment penalty. You won't pay a Part D late enrollment penalty while you get Extra Help.
- Monthly plan changes. With Medicaid or Extra Help, you can switch standalone Part D plans, or leave a Medicare Advantage plan for Original Medicare with a standalone Part D plan, once a calendar month. The change starts the first day of the next month. See Dual special needs plans in Oklahoma.
How do I apply in Oklahoma?
OHCA's online system at mySoonerCare.org is not the place to apply for these programs. OHCA sends people with Medicare who need help with premiums, coinsurance or deductibles to Oklahoma Human Services:
- Apply online. Go to OKDHSLive.org.
- Or apply in person or by mail. Visit your county OKDHS Human Services Center, or download the Request for Benefits form (search OKDHS forms for PS-1 or 08MP001E), fill it out and send it to your local office.
- Send proof. Have your Medicare card, Social Security number, and proof of income and resources, such as your Social Security benefit letter, pension statements and bank statements, ready.
- Renew every year. OKDHS certifies QMBP, SLMB and QI-1 for 12 months at a time (OAC 317:35-7-60). Open and answer any mail from OKDHS promptly so your help doesn't stop.
Questions about an existing case go to the SoonerCare Helpline at 1-800-987-7767. If you already have SoonerCare long-term care, OKDHS checks whether you also qualify as a QMBP or SLMB without another application.
After you're approved
A Medicare Savings Program doesn't change your Medicare coverage by itself, but it can open choices, including dual special needs plans (D-SNPs) in counties where they accept your SoonerCare program. To compare the Medicare plans from the companies they work with that fit your situation, you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent, or see plans for your ZIP code. Benefits Life is not connected with OHCA or OKDHS, which decide eligibility. See also SoonerCare and Medicare and Medicare costs in 2026.
Sources
- OKDHS — Appendix C-1, Maximum Income, Resource, and Payment Standards (7/1/2026), Schedules V, VI, VII and VII.A
- OHCA — SoonerCare Supplemental (QMB, SLMB, QI-1; how to apply)
- OHCA — Where to apply
- OHCA — OAC 317:35-7-40, Eligibility as Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Plus
- OHCA — OAC 317:35-7-60, Certification for SoonerCare (effective dates, 12-month certification, QI limits)
- OHCA — OAC 317:35-1-2, Definitions (Part A and Part B buy-in)
- Medicare.gov — Medicare Savings Programs (2026 limits)
- Medicare.gov — Help with drug costs (Extra Help)
- CMS — CY 2026 Resource and Cost-Sharing Limits for Low-Income Subsidy
- Social Security — Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug plan costs
- CMS — Qualified Medicare Beneficiary program (billing protections)
Every question in this guide
Frequently asked questions
What are the Medicare Savings Program income limits in Oklahoma for 2026?
OKDHS Appendix C-1 (revised July 1, 2026) lists monthly countable income limits of $1,350 for one person ($1,824 for a couple) for QMBP, $1,616 ($2,184) for SLMB and $1,816 ($2,455) for QI-1. These match the federal limits Medicare.gov publishes, which already include the 20-dollar general income disregard.
Does Oklahoma have an asset test for Medicare Savings Programs?
Yes. For QMBP, SLMB and QI-1, countable resources must be no more than $9,950 for one person or $14,910 for a married couple in 2026. Oklahoma ties these to the full Extra Help resource limits. QDWI uses a lower limit, double the SSI resource standard.
What is QMBP in Oklahoma?
QMBP, or Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Plus, is Oklahoma's name for the QMB program. OHCA pays your Part A and Part B premiums, and providers who accept Medicare may not bill you for Medicare deductibles, coinsurance or copays. Oklahoma can start QMBP coverage as early as the first day of the third month before the month you apply.
Will I get Extra Help if I qualify for a Medicare Savings Program in Oklahoma?
Yes. People approved for QMBP, SLMB or QI-1, or who have full SoonerCare or SSI, get Extra Help with Part D drug costs automatically, without a separate application to Social Security.
How do I apply for a Medicare Savings Program in Oklahoma?
OHCA sends people with Medicare who need help with premiums, coinsurance or deductibles to Oklahoma Human Services. Apply online at OKDHSLive.org, at your county OKDHS Human Services Center, or with the Request for Benefits form (PS-1, also listed as 08MP001E). You must be entitled to Medicare Part A for SLMB and QI-1.
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