What is a qualified Medicare beneficiary (QMB)?

A qualified Medicare beneficiary is an individual who qualifies for the QMB program, which is a Medicare Savings Program that helps pay the QMB's Medicare premiums, according to Medicare. To qualify, an individual must be eligible for Part A and below certain income and resource limits.

For 2014, the maximum monthly income to qualify for the QMB Program was $993 for a single individual and $1,331 for a married couple, according to Medicare. Resource limits for the QMB Program for 2014 were $7,160 for an individual and $10,750 for a married couple. Since these amounts may increase in future years, Medicare recommends applying even if income and resources are a bit higher than the limits.