Glossary
Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB)
An MSP that pays the Part B premium for beneficiaries with income slightly above the QMB threshold.
Also known as: SLMB
Quick answer
SLMB pays the Part B premium for individuals whose income is too high for QMB but below the SLMB limit. SLMB does not pay deductibles or coinsurance.
Why it matters
Picking up the Part B premium alone saves over $2,000 per year for most beneficiaries.
When you'll encounter it
When income falls between QMB and SLMB thresholds.
Impact on Medicare
Pays Part B premium only.
Impact on TRICARE For Life
Maintains the Part B requirement needed to keep TFL — a major win.
What should I do?
- 1Apply through your state Medicaid agency.
- 2Reapply annually as income changes.
Continue learning
— suggested by the knowledge graph Lessons
- Enrolling in Medicare: timing, methods, and the military-specific rulesWhen and how to sign up for Medicare Parts A and B — and the timing that protects your TRICARE For Life activation.
- Understanding Original Medicare (Parts A & B) for veteransExactly what Part A and Part B cover, what they cost in 2026, and why both are required to keep TRICARE For Life.
Encyclopedia
- Dual Eligible (Medicare & Medicaid)People enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid — Medicaid pays Medicare premiums and cost-sharing, and may cover services Medicare does not.
- Qualified Disabled and Working Individual (QDWI)An MSP that pays the Part A premium for working disabled individuals under 65 who lost premium-free Part A due to returning to work.
- Qualifying Individual (QI) ProgramAn MSP that pays the Part B premium for beneficiaries with income slightly above the SLMB threshold — funded on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Balance BillingThe practice of a provider billing you for the difference between their charge and what insurance approved.
- Benefit Period (Part A)The Part A timeframe used to measure hospital deductibles and coinsurance — it resets after 60 days out of the hospital.
- Billing ErrorsMistakes — accidental or intentional — on Medicare or TFL claims, ranging from duplicate charges to outright fraud.
- Brand-Name DrugsFDA-approved drugs sold under a manufacturer's proprietary name — middle copay tier on the TRICARE formulary.
- ClaimA formal request to an insurer for payment of a covered service.
FAQs
- Can my state help pay my Part B premium?If your income is low enough, yes. Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, QI) pay the Part B premium for qualifying beneficiaries. Apply through your state Medicaid office.
- How much does Medicare Part B cost?Most people pay the standard Part B premium (roughly $185/month in 2026). Higher-income retirees pay IRMAA on top. Lower-income retirees may qualify for help paying it.
- Why did one extra dollar of income raise my Part B premium hundreds of dollars?IRMAA uses cliff thresholds, not gradual tiers. Crossing a bracket by even $1 jumps you to the next premium amount for the entire year.
- Does TFL pay my Part B premium?No. TFL doesn't pay any Medicare premiums. The Part B premium is your responsibility. A Medicare Advantage Part B giveback can refund part of it while TFL remains intact.
- Can I get a Part B giveback and keep TRICARE For Life?Yes. Enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan with a Part B giveback lowers your premium, and TFL stays intact as a wraparound for in-network MA care.
Related glossary terms
Related Official Resources
Continue learning straight from the source. Every link below goes to an official government or DoD resource.
Last reviewed January 2026 against the 2026 Medicare & You and TRICARE For Life handbooks.