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limited income. In Alabama, interest and dividends do
not count as income in determining whether you qualify
for these programs. The income limits in 2020 for the
QI program, which covers your Part B premium and
also entitles you to enroll in Medicare prescription drug
coverage with no premium, no deductible, and very low
co-payments, are $1960 monthly for a married couple
who reside together and $1456 monthly for individuals
who do not reside with a spouse. The income limits for
the SLMB program, which provides exactly the same
benefits as the QI program, are $1744 monthly for
married couples who reside together and $1296 monthly
for individuals who do not reside with a spouse. If your
income is no more than $1457 for a married couple who
reside together or $1084 for individuals who do not reside
with a spouse, then you can qualify for QMB, which
covers co-payments and deductibles under Medicare Part
A and Part B in addition to the benefits that are covered
under the QI and SLMB programs. In Alabama, there
is no resources or assets limits for QMB, SLMB, or QI.
If you are not sure if you have Part A, look on your red,
white, and blue Medicare card. It will show “Hospital
(Part A)” on the lower left corner of the card. If you are
still not sure, you can call Social Security toll-free at (800)
772-1213. You can go online to get more information
about these programs from the Centers for Medicare
& Medicaid Services (CMS) website www.medicare.
gov and request “Get Help with Your Medicare Costs”
(Publication No. CMS-10126).
To apply for help under these programs, contact your
local Medicaid District office at 334-702-3100 or
SARCOA’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program
(SHIP) contractor, Davis & Associates at 334-671-3990.
You also may be able to get extra help paying for the
annual deductibles, monthly premiums and prescription
co-payments related to the Medicare prescription drug
program (Part D). You may qualify for extra help through
the LIS program if you have limited monthly income (set
at 150% of the federal poverty level, in 2020, $1615 for
one person, $2170 for two person, an additional $560
for each additional person ) and limited resources (in
2020, $29,160 for married residing together, $14,610
for all others). These income and resource limits change
each year. Unlike with the state QMB, SLMB, and QI
programs, LIS income limits are based on household size
that includes dependents in addition to your spouse and
count all income, including interest and dividends, and
the LIS program does have an asset limits (but does not
count your home, vehicles, and life insurance). To inquire
about and apply for LIS, contact SARCOA’s SHIP
contractor at 334-671-3990 or go to www.ssa.gov.
If you have both Medicaid and Medicare or Medicare
and SSI or if the state pays for your Medicare premiums
through QMB, SLMB, or QI, you qualify automatically
for full extra help and do not need to apply separately for
LIS. In Alabama, if you have SSI, you also automatically
qualify for Medicaid, and if you have both Medicare Parts
A and B and SSI, you also automatically qualify for QMB.
Signing up for Medicare
If you are already receiving Social Security or railroad
retirement or disability benefits, you will receive
information in the mail about Medicare about three
months before the month in which your 65th birthday,
and you will be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B
automatically unless you elect to turn down Part B
coverage.
If you are not already getting retirement benefits, you
should contact Social Security about three months before
your 65th birthday to sign up for Medicare. You can sign
up for Medicare even if you do not plan to retire at age
65.
Once you are enrolled in Medicare, you will receive a red,
white, and blue Medicare card showing whether you have
Part A, Part B, or both. Keep your card in a safe place so
you will have it when you need it. If your card is ever lost
or stolen, you can apply for a replacement card on the
internet at www.socialsecurity.gov or call Social Security’s
toll-free number. You will also receive a “Medicare & You”
(Publication No. CMS-10050) handbook that describes
your Medicare benefits and Medicare plan choices.
ALABAMA MEDICAID ~ OTHER
ELIGIBILITY CATEGORIES
The Alabama Medicaid Agency also certifies individuals
for the following programs:
Pregnant Women and Children Program -
Pregnant women and children under age 19 in families
who have income below certain limits may be eligible for
Medicaid.
Medicaid for Low-Income Families Program -
Households with related children under age 19 living in
the home may be eligible for Medicaid if the household
has very low income.
/www.medicare
/www.ssa.gov
/www.socialsecurity.gov
/www.sarcoa.org