Medicare Savings Plan CT 2024
The Medicare savings plan CT 2024 could make a big difference in the lives of many people struggling to pay their health care costs.
Connecticut provides financial assistance to eligible Medicare enrollees through Medicare Savings Programs.
Qualified beneficiaries receive help through one of three available Medicare Savings Programs. qualification for each level depends on your income. If you qualify for any of the three levels, DSS will pay your monthly Medicare Part B premium. In some cases, enrollees receive help paying both Medicare deductibles and co-insurance. Medicaid funds the MSP program in CT.
The three levels of Medicare Savings Plan help
Each level of extra help is decided by your gross income. If you are married, your spouse’s income is included. Every level of the MSP program pays for your Part B premium. The monthly income limits are effective from March 1, 2023, until February 29, 2024. After that date, the new income limits take effect. When CT releases the new amounts, will add them in.
QMB – This level of help pays your Part B premium. Part B covers doctor visits, some preventative care and outpatient hospital services. QMB also covers your Medicare deductibles. The deductible is how much you pay before your Medicare insurance starts to pay. QMB benefits also cover Co-insurance payments. Co-insurance is the part of Medicare approved services that beneficiaries are responsible for paying.
The QMB is the only level of the Medicare Savings Program that acts like a Medicare Supplemental or Medigap plan. It will cover the costs of the deductibles or co-pays of Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B up to the Medicaid approved rate. It will also pay the premium for Medicare Part A for qualified adults 65 years of age or older when they are not eligible for premium free Medicare due to work earnings. You are protected by federal law from being “balanced billed” or billed for services after Medicare Part A and B pays its portion of the bill, if a provider agrees to treat you, whether or not the provider is a Medicaid provider.
SLMB – This level of extra help pays your Part B premium only.
ALMB – This level of extra help also provides payment for your Part B premium only. Help on this level is available on a first come first served basis as it is subject to available funding. Beneficiaries who receive Medicaid are not eligible for this program.
Click here to download a quick benefits guide.
Every level of MSP automatically enrolls you into LIS (Low Income Subsidy) also referred to as Extra Help. Extra Help either pays the entire cost of a benchmark Medicare Part D plan, or part of a non-benchmark plan. It also covers the annual deductible, co-insurance and co-pays. Extra Help coverage stays the same even in the coverage gap (donut hole). Beneficiaries who receive the LIS also have additional SEPs to change Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plans if they want to.
How to Apply for MSP
You can apply for these benefits online, through the mail or by brining your application to a local DSS office. If you need help completing the application, you can authorize someone to do the application for you.
Click here for a list of local offices.
To apply for benefits online, go to www.connect.ct.gov, look for the ‘Apply for Benefits” and go from there. To apply for MSP only, complete the Medicare Savings Programs application/redetermination form below: