This paper examines ways to improve the Medicare Savings programs, i.e. the Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries Program (QMB) and the Specified Low Income Medicare Beneficiaries program (SLMB). These two programs offer fill-in benefits for Medicare to persons with low incomes. While some of the QMB program serves those with Medicaid, the real advantages are for beneficiaries who otherwise would not qualify for support. But participation has remained low in these programs likely because of lack of knowledge by beneficiaries and lack of enthusiasm by some states that administer QMB and SLMB. Among the options examined were efforts to increase participation by eliminating the asset limits and by federalizing the program. (Inquiry 1998 Fall; 35(3): 346-356).
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