I am 78 years old and on social security with Medicare part A, and am need of cataract surgery, an can not afford part B , at $164.00 a month, I receive less than $1000.00 a month, I have been told I can qualify for the QMB program, how can I get signed up.

A) To get signed up for the QMB program, you can follow these steps:

1. Contact your state Medicaid office. You can find your state Medicaid office by searching online or by calling 1-800-MEDICAID (1-800-633-4227).
2. Provide your income and asset information. The Medicaid office will need to see your income and asset information to determine if you are eligible for the QMB program.
3. Submit an application. The Medicaid office will give you an application to fill out. Once you have filled out the application, you will need to return it to the Medicaid office.
4. Be approved. The Medicaid office will review your application and determine if you are eligible for the QMB program. If you are approved, you will receive a QMB card.

Once you have a QMB card, you will not have to pay any Medicare Part A or Part B premiums. You will also be responsible for paying a reduced amount of copays and deductibles.

In addition to the QMB program, there are other Medicare savings programs that you may be eligible for. These programs can help you pay for Medicare premiums, deductibles, and copays. To learn more about these programs, you can visit the Medicare website or contact your state Medicaid office.

Here are some of the other Medicare savings programs that you may be eligible for:

• SCHIP (State Children’s Health Insurance Program): SCHIP is a government program that provides health insurance to children in low-income families. If you have children who are under the age of 19, you may be able to get them enrolled in SCHIP.
• SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary): SLMB is a program that helps low-income Medicare beneficiaries pay for their Medicare Part B premiums. If you have Medicare Part A and your income is below a certain level, you may be eligible for SLMB.
• Insurance Premium Assistance (IPA): IPA is a program that helps low-income Medicare beneficiaries pay for their Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. If you have Medicare Part D and your income is below a certain level, you may be eligible for IPA.

To learn more about these programs, you can visit the Medicare website or contact your state Medicaid office.