Medicare Savings Programs in California 2026: The Asset Test Is Back
● ACTIVE ◐ ASSET TEST REINSTATED 2026-01-01 CA
National charts put the 2026 QMB limit at $1,350 a month. California's own agency puts it at $1,330. Neither is wrong.
The gap is exactly $20 in every row. National charts add the standard $20 general income disregard to the published threshold. The California Department of Health Care Services lists the threshold without it.
If a chart shows $20 more than your state agency does, that is the disregard — not an error, and not a higher limit you can rely on.
California runs all four Medicare Savings Programs through Medi-Cal. On January 1, 2026 the state brought back an asset test it had removed — $130,000 for one person, plus $65,000 for each additional household member.
Apply through your county, not the state and not Social Security.
2026 income limits
These are the figures published by the California Department of Health Care Services.
| Program | Monthly (one person) | Monthly (with spouse) | What it pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| QMB | $1,330 | $1,804 | Part A and B premiums, deductibles, copays |
| SLMB | $1,596 | $2,165 | Part B premium |
| QI | $1,796 | $2,436 | Part B premium |
| QDWI | $2,660 | $3,608 | Part A premium |
→ swipe the table sideways · gross income, revised annually
Apply even if you are over these numbers. DHCS says so on its own page: additional deductions may apply that are not reflected in the published limits. Being over on paper is not the same as being ineligible.
The asset limit
This is where most summaries get California wrong.
| Household size | Asset limit |
|---|---|
| 1 person | $130,000 |
| 2 people | $195,000 |
| 3 people | $260,000 |
| Each additional, up to 10 | + $65,000 |
→ swipe the table sideways
Assets means bank accounts, cash, second homes, and vehicles. Most pages stop at "$130,000 for an individual and $195,000 for a couple." The rule does not stop there — it keeps rising by $65,000 per household member up to ten.
How this compares
Thirteen states and the District of Columbia apply no asset test at all in 2026. California is not one of them any more, but its limit is still more than thirteen times the federal figure of $9,950.
How to apply
All four programs run through Medi-Cal, and applications are handled by county social services offices — not by the state, not by Medicare, and not by Social Security.
- Online — BenefitsCal.org
- By phone — call your county social services office, or the Medi-Cal Helpline at (800) 541-5555
- In person — your county social services office
- By mail — the Medi-Cal application, which covers MSPs as well
If you want an MSP and nothing else, there is a shorter form: MC 14A. Mail it to the Medicare Savings Program contact at your county office. Ask for it by number.
Tell the county which program you want. They will not always choose the best one for you.
Traps
Pages saying California has no asset test are out of date. That was true through 2025. The test returned on January 1, 2026. If you were denied early in 2026 under an old chart, ask the county to review the case under current rules.
QI and Medi-Cal cannot be held together. DHCS states that QI and QDWI enrollees cannot also receive Medi-Cal. If you qualify for both, that is a decision, not a bonus.
Do not pay a Part A premium before you ask about Buy-In. Since January 1, 2025 California is a Medicare Part A Buy-In state. Full-scope Medi-Cal members who have Part B and qualify for QMB are enrolled in Part A automatically, with the state paying the premium. Ask the county before paying anything yourself.
A bill sent to a QMB enrollee is not legal. Providers may not bill QMB enrollees for Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, or copays. If you have QMB and receive one, dispute it rather than paying it.
Do not apply separately for Extra Help. Enrolling in any Medicare Savings Program automatically qualifies you for the Part D Low-Income Subsidy. A second application is unnecessary.
Related programs
Automatic · no applicationPart D Extra Help→ Unlocked by enrollmentFree rides to medical appointments→ All 50 statesMedicare Savings Programs 2026→- California Department of Health Care Services — Medicare Savings Programs in California. Page updated July 6, 2026.
- California Department of Health Care Services — Medi-Cal asset limit changes, effective January 1, 2026.
- National Council on Aging — Medicare Savings Programs: Eligibility and Coverage (2026), for the national comparison figures.
Income and asset limits change annually. Confirm with your county social services office before you apply. Benefit Almanac is not a government agency and cannot determine your eligibility.
Comments
Post a Comment