The Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries (QMB) program helps people who have Medicare pay for their medical care. To receive benefits from the QMB program you must be receiving Part A (Hospital insurance benefits) coverage of Medicare. Your income and resources must fall within certain limits. Income limits are changed annually based on the federal cost of living adjustment.  QMB has four benefit packages based on an individual’s income. The amounts listed are for 2014-2015.

Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries – Basic (QMB-BAS). In this benefit package the Department of Human Services pays for eligible clients’ Medicare premiums, deductibles and co-insurance. The income limit for this program is set at 100 percent of the poverty level or $973 for an individual and $1,311 for a couple.

Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries – Disabled Worker (QMB-DW). In this package the Department pays for the Medicare Part A premiums for some disabled workers who lost eligibility for Social Security because they are working. The income limit for this program is set at 200 percent of the poverty level or $1,945 for single person and $2,622 for a couple.

Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries – Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (QMB-SMB and SMF). In this benefit package, the Department only pays for the Medicare Part B premiums of eligible clients. The federal government pays for a portion of the cost of the SMB and SMF programs.

SMB – The income limit for SMB is set at 120 percent of the poverty level or $1,167 for individuals or $1,573 for a couple. The federal government pays 60 percent of this benefit.

SMF – The federal government also mandates that we serve people with incomes between 120 percent and 135 percent of the poverty level which equals $1,313 for an individual and $1,770 for a couple. This is called the SMF benefit. Unfortunately, we are only allowed to serve a specific number of people each year in this category. Once we reach our maximum number we must shut down enrollment. The federal government pays 100 percent of the SMF program.

Please note: Institutionalized clients (e.g. Nursing Facility residents) are not eligible for the SMF program.

For all QMB programs the allowed resource (asset) limit is set at $7,160 per individual or $10,750 per couple in 2014. This does not include your home, car, burial plan ($1,500) and merchandise.

For more information visit the Department of Human Services website.

Through the Affordable Care Act there are several types of insurance to choose from.  Your Care Coordinator can help you navigate systems to enroll for the insurance you qualify for.  You can also apply by going to www.coveroregon.com/get-coverage/online.

There are many types of insurance available to people living with HIV, including persons who are also undocumented.  Below is a list of the most common types of insurance.  For more information click on the item listed.

• Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid)
• Medicare
• Qualified Health Plans

There are also programs that can help you with the cost of insurance, medical care, and medications.  Below are a few, click on the name to learn more.

• Low Income Subsidy
• Qualified Medicare Beneficiary
• CAREAssist

Under the Affordable Care Act, starting in 2014, any insurance plan that is certified by the Health Insurance Marketplace and provides essential health benefits, follows established limits on cost-sharing (like deductibles, co-payments, and out-of-pocket maximum amounts), and meets other requirements is considered a Qualified Health Plan.

Essential Health Benefits:

• Outpatient care
• Trips to the Emergency Room
• Inpatient hospital treatment
• Care before and after your baby is born
• Mental health and substance use disorder services such as behavioral health treatment, counseling, and psychotherapy
• Prescription drugs
• Services and devices to help you recover from injury, disability, or chronic condition including physical and occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, psychiatric rehabilitation and more
• Lab tests
• Preventative services including counseling, screenings, and vaccines to keep you healthy and manage a chronic disease
• Pediatric services such as dental and vision care

Under the Affordable Care Act, you can only apply for health insurance coverage during Open Enrollment, which is between November 15, 2014 and February 15, 2015.   However, if you had what is known as a “Qualifying Life Event” you are still eligible to enroll and even get financial help.  A Qualifying Life Event is simply a major life change – for example, you were recently married/divorced, had or adopted a child, lost a dependent/death in the family, graduated college, changed jobs, moved to a new state, etc. – then you can get coverage outside of the Open Enrollment period.  Remember this does not apply to Oregon Health Plan(OHP), you may apply for OHP at any time.

Individuals and families could qualify to receive help paying for a qualified health plan. Factors such as income and household size determine if a person or family are eligible for tax credits to help pay for monthly premiums. (An individual earning up to $45,900 a year or a family of four earning up to $94,200 a year could qualify for a tax credit.) Some people will also be eligible for cost-sharing reductions to help pay for copays, deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs.

If you have questions about how to apply for a qualified health plan and assistance with the costs, your care coordinator can help.

If you are uninsured and have not had a Qualifying Life Event and are unable to enroll for insurance, talk with your Care Coordinator about other options available to you until Open Enrollment begins.