Everything Arizona residents need to know about QMB, SLMB, QI, Extra Help, Medicaid, ALTCS, and financial assistance for Medicare.
Medicare provides essential coverage for more than 1.3 million Arizona residents, but many seniors and adults with disabilities still struggle to afford premiums, deductibles, prescription medications, and medical bills.
Fortunately, Arizona offers several Medicare assistance programs that can dramatically reduce your healthcare costs—or even eliminate them entirely.
This guide is the official Arizona pillar article in your Medicare assistance silo.
It explains every assistance program available, who qualifies, income limits, how to apply, and the specific Arizona rules that differ from other states.
If you’re looking for help paying your Medicare premiums or medical expenses in Arizona, this guide will walk you through everything step-by-step.
Overview: Medicare Assistance Programs in Arizona
Arizona offers the following Medicare financial assistance programs:
1. Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, QI)
Help with premiums, deductibles, and copays.
2. Extra Help (Low-Income Subsidy)
Help paying Part D prescription drug costs.
3. ALTCS (Arizona Long Term Care System)
Arizona Medicaid long-term-care program for seniors and disabled individuals.
4. Full/Partial Medicaid (Dual Eligibility)
Coverage for medical costs Medicare doesn’t pay.
5. D-SNP Medicare Advantage Plans
Plans designed for low-income and dual-eligible beneficiaries.
6. Arizona SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program)
Free Medicare counseling.
7. State & nonprofit prescription drug assistance programs
Help with high medication costs.
This article explains each one in detail and gives you a clear path to apply.
1. Medicare Savings Programs in Arizona (QMB, SLMB, QI)
Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) help low-income Arizona residents pay Medicare premiums and medical costs.
In Arizona, these programs are administered by:
Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)
The three main MSPs in Arizona are:
QMB – Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (Arizona)
The most comprehensive assistance program.
QMB pays for:
- Medicare Part A premium (if owed)
- Medicare Part B premium
- All deductibles
- All copayments & coinsurance
- All Medicare-covered services
Providers are legally prohibited from billing QMB members for Medicare-covered services.
If approved, your medical costs under Medicare become $0.
SLMB – Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (Arizona)
SLMB helps pay the Medicare Part B premium only.
This program is ideal for those who don’t qualify for QMB but still need financial assistance.
QI – Qualifying Individual (Arizona)
QI also pays for the Medicare Part B premium, but:
- It must be re-applied for each year
- Funding is limited
- Approval is first-come, first-served
Most Arizonans who qualify for SLMB also qualify for QI—it depends on your exact income level.
Arizona Medicare Savings Program Income Limits (2025)
(Note: These limits can vary slightly each year based on federal poverty guideline updates. I can customize the exact 2025 limits once released.)
As an example, typical thresholds look like:
QMB (Most help)
- Pays Part A + Part B + all cost-sharing
- Income limit: ~100% of FPL
- Asset limit: varies (Arizona is one of the more flexible states)
SLMB (Part B only)
- Pays Part B premium
- Income limit: ~120% of FPL
QI (Part B only)
- Pays Part B premium
- Income limit: ~135% of FPL
Important: Arizona uses gross monthly income, and many people who think they don’t qualify actually do.
2. Extra Help for Prescription Drugs (Arizona LIS Program)
Extra Help (LIS) reduces the cost of Medicare Part D prescriptions.
Benefits include:
- Low or $0 Part D premiums
- Low or $0 deductibles
- Greatly reduced copays
- No donut hole
- Protection from Part D late enrollment penalties
Most Arizonans who qualify for QMB, SLMB, or QI automatically receive Extra Help.
Extra Help can save over $5,000 per year in prescription costs.
3. ALTCS (Arizona Long Term Care System)
ALTCS is Arizona’s Medicaid long-term-care program.
It is one of the most generous long-term care systems in the U.S., paying for:
- Assisted living
- Nursing home care
- In-home caregivers
- Memory care
- Adult day care
- Medical services
- Supplies, equipment, and support services
ALTCS is available for:
- Seniors who meet medical and financial criteria
- Individuals with disabilities
- Those needing nursing home level care
This program is separate from typical Medicaid and is extremely important for aging Arizonans.
4. Medicaid for Medicare Beneficiaries in Arizona (Dual Eligibility)
Some Arizona residents qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid.
Two types:
Full Dual Eligible
Medicaid pays for:
- Part A & B premiums
- Deductibles
- Copays
- Coinsurance
- Vision, dental, and hearing (varies)
- Nursing home or long-term care
- Transportation
- Home health services
Partial Dual Eligible
Medicaid pays for some Medicare costs—primarily premiums or specific services.
Arizona Medicaid is administered through AHCCCS and often provides more extensive benefits than Medicare alone.
5. D-SNP Plans in Arizona (Medicare Advantage for Low-Income Beneficiaries)
Arizona has a large number of Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs).
These are Medicare Advantage plans specifically for individuals who qualify for Medicare + Medicaid or a Medicare Savings Program.
D-SNP plans commonly include:
- $0 monthly premiums
- $0 medical copays
- $0 prescription drug costs
- Free dental benefits
- Vision and hearing benefits
- OTC allowances
- Healthy food/grocery cards
- Transportation to medical appointments
- Care coordination and support teams
A licensed Arizona Medicare agent (like Menke Insurance) can help you find out which D-SNP plans you can enroll in.
6. State Health Insurance Assistance Program (Arizona SHIP)
Arizona SHIP provides free, unbiased Medicare counseling.
They can help with:
- Understanding Medicare
- Reviewing assistance program eligibility
- Comparing plan options
- Filling out applications
While SHIP cannot enroll you in a plan, they can help answer questions about coverage options.
7. Other Medicare Assistance Resources in Arizona
These include state, federal, and nonprofit organizations that help with:
- Medication cost assistance
- Medical equipment
- Prescription discount programs
- Chronic disease support
- Patient assistance foundations
Common programs used in Arizona:
- Patient Access Network Foundation
- Extra Help (LIS)
- NeedyMeds
- RX Outreach
- GoodRx
- Partnership for Prescription Assistance
- American Kidney Fund (dialysis-related support)
These are supplemental to Medicare—not replacements.
Who Qualifies for Medicare Assistance in Arizona?
Eligibility for Arizona Medicare assistance programs depends on:
- Your monthly income
- Your resources (bank accounts, savings, etc.)
- Whether you pay for Part A
- Whether you pay for Part B
- Disability status
- Your current prescription drug costs
- Long-term care needs (for ALTCS)
Most people qualify for at least one program.
Some qualify for multiple, resulting in massive savings.
How to Apply for Medicare Assistance Programs in Arizona
Here are the correct application routes:
1. Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, QI)
Apply through:
Arizona AHCCCS
Online or in person at a Department of Economic Security (DES) office.
2. Extra Help (LIS)
Apply through:
- Social Security online
- Phone
- Local office
- Or get automatically enrolled through MSP approval
3. Medicaid (Full or Partial Dual)
Apply through AHCCCS.
4. ALTCS
Apply through your local ALTCS office (separate from standard Medicaid).
5. D-SNP Medicare Advantage Plans
Enroll through a licensed Medicare agent or Medicare.gov.
Why Many Arizonans Don’t Apply for Assistance (Even When Eligible)
Common reasons include:
- Misunderstanding income limits
- Being unsure about the application process
- Fear of losing Medicare (this does NOT happen)
- Not realizing premiums can be eliminated
- Confusion between AHCCCS, DES, and Medicare
- Not knowing they automatically qualify for Extra Help
As a result, thousands of Arizona seniors overpay every year.
How a Local Arizona Medicare Agent Can Help
A licensed Arizona Medicare agent (like Menke Insurance) can help you:
- Check your eligibility for QMB, SLMB, or QI
- Determine whether you qualify for Extra Help
- See if you qualify for Medicaid or ALTCS
- Find available D-SNP plans in your county
- Apply for the correct programs
- Ensure you receive all the benefits you’re entitled to
Agents do not approve or deny benefits—they simply guide you through the process.
Conclusion: You May Qualify for More Medicare Assistance in Arizona Than You Realize
Arizona offers powerful financial assistance options:
- Medicare premiums paid
- Deductibles eliminated
- Prescription drug costs reduced
- Long-term care covered
- Dental, vision, and groceries provided through certain plans
Whether you’re a low-income senior, have high prescription drug costs, or need long-term care, there is likely an Arizona Medicare program that can help.
To get state-specific income limits, check your eligibility, or get help applying, review the rest of the articles in this Medicare assistance silo—including city-specific guides for Phoenix, Peoria, Scottsdale, Mesa, Glendale, and more.