New Jersey Medicare Savings Program 2026: NJSave Apply

What Is a New Jersey Medicare Savings Program?

A Medicare Savings Program, or MSP, is a Medicaid-administered program that helps qualified Medicare beneficiaries pay certain Medicare expenses.

New Jersey uses NJSave to screen applicants for three primary Medicare Savings Programs:

• Qualified Medicare Beneficiary, or QMB
• Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary, or SLMB
• Qualifying Individual, or QI

One accurate NJSave application allows New Jersey to determine whether an applicant qualifies for QMB, SLMB, QI or another benefit available through NJSave.

NJSave can also screen eligible applicants for programs such as Extra Help, PAAD, Senior Gold and Lifeline assistance. Qualification for one program does not automatically mean the applicant qualifies for every NJSave benefit.

For general MSP information, read our guide explaining what a Medicare Savings Program is. You can also use the Medicare Savings Programs information center to explore related topics.

New Jersey Medicare Savings Program Limits for 2026

The following table uses Medicare.gov’s current 2026 federal screening limits. New Jersey reviews countable income and resources under applicable MSP rules.

The monthly figures above include the standard general income disregard reflected in Medicare.gov’s screening table. NJSave asks applicants to report current yearly income. Enter the amounts requested by the application and allow New Jersey to complete the eligibility calculation.

Do not subtract Medicare premiums, the general disregard or other exclusions yourself unless the application specifically directs you to enter a net amount.

Review the official 2026 Medicare Savings Program limits and the New Jersey Medicare Savings Programs page.

Our separate guide provides more context on Medicare Savings Program income limits.

Gross Income Is Not Always Countable Income

Do not assume that you are ineligible only because the gross amount on a Social Security record, pension statement or pay stub appears slightly above a screening limit.

The eligibility calculation may involve:

• The standard general income disregard
• Earned-income exclusions
• Spouse-related calculations
• Treatment of irregular or excluded payments
• Program-specific income rules

Apply and allow NJSave to evaluate the complete facts.

What Financial Resources May Count?

NJSave may ask about:

• Checking and savings accounts
• Certificates of deposit
• Cash
• Stocks, bonds and mutual funds
• Individual retirement accounts
• Annuities and trusts
• Life-insurance cash value
• Burial funds
• Real estate other than the principal home

The principal home, vehicles, burial plots and personal possessions may be excluded under the applicable rules. Do not omit an account or property merely because you believe it is exempt. Report what NJSave requests and allow the eligibility worker to classify it.

Learn more in our guide to Medicare Savings Program resource limits.

What Do QMB, SLMB and QI Pay in New Jersey?

QMB Billing Protection

Medicare providers and suppliers generally may not bill a QMB member for Medicare Part A or Part B deductibles, coinsurance or copayments for Medicare-covered services and items.

If you receive a bill:

1. Confirm that QMB was active on the date of service.
2. Compare the bill with the Medicare Summary Notice.
3. Show the provider your QMB or Medicaid documentation.
4. Ask the billing department to verify QMB status.
5. Request removal of prohibited Medicare cost-sharing.
6. Contact New Jersey SHIP or 1-800-MEDICARE if billing continues.

If you already paid prohibited Medicare cost-sharing, ask the provider whether a refund is due.

Read our detailed QMB Medicare Savings Program guide.

What About QDWI?

Medicare also recognizes the Qualified Disabled and Working Individual program, or QDWI, which may pay a Part A premium for certain working people with disabilities.

New Jersey’s NJSave page specifically identifies QMB, SLMB and QI as the MSP categories accessed through NJSave. A person seeking QDWI should contact NJSave and request instructions for the correct New Jersey eligibility route rather than assuming the standard NJSave process covers the case.

Our Medicare Savings Program types guide compares all four federal programs.

Prepare These Documents Before Starting NJSave

NJSave may verify some information electronically. It may also require supporting records for identity, New Jersey residence, income, spouse information and financial resources.

Two Proofs of New Jersey Residence

The current paper form asks for two proofs of residence that are current, dated and show a date within the previous six months.

Examples listed by New Jersey include:

• Utility records or receipts
• Social Security records
• Bills from doctors, pharmacies or other professionals
• Post office records showing the physical residence

A post office box may be used as a mailing address, but the applicant must still provide proof of the actual physical New Jersey residence.

Use Complete Financial Statements

Bank and investment records should show:

• The account owner’s name
• The financial institution
• The statement period
• The balance or market value
• Account activity and deposits when requested
• Every page of the statement

Do not black out deposits, withdrawals or transfers that the eligibility worker may need to understand.

Option 1: Apply Online Through NJSave

The online application is often the most convenient route when you have internet access and can enter household and financial information electronically.

Use the official NJSave online application.

The portal provides separate options to:

• Start a new application
• Resume an existing application
• Log in to an existing account
• Attach documents requested through an RFI
• Complete an MSP renewal application

Step 1: Start the Correct Application

Select Start New Application when applying for the first time. Use the resume option when you already started and saved an application.

Do not create a second application simply because you forgot to upload a document. Use the existing application or RFI-document option when possible.

Step 2: Complete the Initial Screening

NJSave begins with basic questions about residence, age or disability and the assistance programs that may apply.

The applicant’s principal residence must be in New Jersey. A seasonal or temporary stay does not establish the required principal residence.

The initial screening is not an eligibility approval. New Jersey must review the completed application and supporting information.

Step 3: Create an Account or Continue as Directed

The portal may allow or require you to create an account using an email address. Use an email account you can access and store the login details securely.

Save any application reference or confirmation number provided by the system.

Step 4: Enter Applicant and Spouse Information

Be prepared to enter:

• Legal name
• Social Security number
• Date of birth
• Physical and mailing addresses
• Marital status
• Spouse information when applicable
• Medicare coverage information

Enter names and identification numbers exactly as they appear on official records. A spelling or number mismatch may delay electronic verification.

If you are married and living with your spouse, NJSave may require spouse information even when only one spouse is applying.

Step 5: Report Current Yearly Income

NJSave asks MSP applicants to report current yearly income.

Depending on your circumstances, report income such as:

• Social Security
• Railroad Retirement
• Veterans benefits
• Pensions and annuities
• Employment earnings
• Self-employment income
• Rental income
• Interest and dividends
• IRA distributions
• Workers’ compensation
• Other regular income

Follow the wording of each NJSave question. For example, the form separately asks for net Social Security income and Medicare Part B or Part D premiums deducted from that payment.

Do not copy only the bank deposit amount when the application asks for a gross benefit or another specific figure.

Step 6: Report Accounts and Other Resources

Report every requested account, including jointly owned accounts.

NJSave may ask about:

• Bank accounts
• Certificates of deposit
• Stocks, bonds and mutual funds
• Retirement accounts
• Annuities and trusts
• Life-insurance policies
• Burial funds
• Real estate other than the principal home

Report the account even if you believe it should be excluded. The state determines whether it counts.

Step 7: Review, Sign and Submit

Before submitting, check:

• Names and Social Security numbers
• Physical and mailing addresses
• Medicare information
• Annual income amounts
• Account balances
• Spouse information
• Required electronic signatures

Save or print the confirmation page and record the submission date.

How to Upload Documents Requested by NJSave

NJSave may send a Request for Information, often called an RFI, when it needs another document or explanation.

When you receive an RFI:

1. Read the entire notice.
2. Identify each missing document.
3. Check the response deadline.
4. Return to the official NJSave portal.
5. Choose Attach RFI Documents.
6. Upload the files to the existing application or case.
7. Save the upload confirmation.

Do not start another NJSave application solely because a statement page or signature is missing. A duplicate application may make case tracking more difficult.

If the portal does not accept a document, call NJSave and follow the return instructions on the RFI notice.

Option 2: Apply With the Paper NJSave Form

A paper application may be useful when you prefer completing the form by hand or want help from a relative, Senior Save Navigator, Area Agency on Aging or SHIP counselor.

Download the official NJSave paper application.

Follow the Form’s Printing Instructions

The form is designed for computerized scanning. New Jersey instructs applicants to:

• Use blue or black ink
• Print clearly in uppercase block letters
• Enter one number or letter in each box
• Stay inside the boxes
• Print the applicant’s name at the top of each page

Complete the Applicant and Spouse Sections

Enter the applicant’s:

• Full legal name
• Social Security number
• Date of birth
• Marital status
• Physical address
• Mailing address when different
• Medicare information

If both spouses are applying with the paper form, each spouse completes a separate application.

If only one spouse applies and the couple lives together, NJSave still requests spouse information and signatures. A separated applicant should contact NJSave for the required Affidavit of Separation.

Complete the Income Questions

Enter the current yearly amount for every applicable income source. Match each amount with supporting proof.

When an income category does not apply, mark none as instructed rather than leaving the field unanswered.

If the applicant or spouse filed a federal or state tax return, the current form directs them to include signed copies and schedules.

Complete the Asset Questions

For each financial account, the form may request:

• Account type
• Financial institution
• Account owner
• Account number
• Current balance or market value

Include complete current statements. If income is deposited onto a prepaid debit card, include records showing the deposits and balance.

Review and Sign the Application

Before signing, confirm that:

• Applicable questions are answered
• Income and account figures match the supporting records
• Applicant and spouse signatures are included when required
• The applicant’s name appears at the top of each page
• Additional sheets identify the applicant and relevant question

If a guardian or power of attorney signs, attach documentation showing that person’s legal authority.

What to Attach to the Paper Application

Depending on the application, include readable copies of:

• Two current proofs of New Jersey residence
• Proof of every income source reported
• Complete bank and investment statements
• Retirement-account or annuity records
• Life-insurance or burial-fund records
• Information about real estate other than the principal home
• Signed tax returns and schedules when required
• Power-of-attorney, guardianship, separation or nursing-facility documentation when applicable

Send copies only. The official form warns that original supporting documents will not be returned.

Where to Mail the NJSave Application

The current paper form lists this return address:

The processing center uses PAAD in its name because the NJSave application covers several New Jersey assistance programs. This is the return address printed on the current official NJSave form.

Before mailing:

• Copy or photograph the completed application
• Keep copies of every supporting document
• Confirm that all required pages are enclosed
• Check the address on the current form
• Consider using trackable mail
• Keep the mailing receipt

Use the Revenue Processing Center return address in the current form instructions rather than a general Division of Aging Services address.

Free Help Completing an NJSave Application

Senior Save Navigators

Senior Save Navigators help New Jersey residents apply for and maintain NJSave benefits.

They may help with:

• Understanding application questions
• Gathering supporting documents
• Completing the online or paper form
• Uploading or copying documents
• Responding to an RFI
• Completing an MSP renewal

Use the Senior Save Navigator county directory.

County Area Agency on Aging

Each New Jersey county has an Area Agency on Aging, which also serves as an Aging and Disability Resource Connection lead agency.

These offices provide benefits information, referrals and connections to local assistance for older adults, adults with disabilities and caregivers.

Use the official New Jersey County Offices on Aging directory or call 1-877-222-3737.

New Jersey SHIP

The New Jersey State Health Insurance Assistance Program provides free, unbiased Medicare counseling.

A SHIP counselor may explain:

• Differences between QMB, SLMB and QI
• How an MSP works with Medicare Advantage or Medigap
• Medicare Part D Extra Help
• QMB billing protection
• Medicare notices or coverage problems

SHIP counselors do not sell, recommend or endorse insurance products.

Call 1-800-792-8820 or use the official New Jersey SHIP page.

New Jersey MSP and NJSave Phone Numbers

What Happens After You Submit NJSave?

New Jersey reviews the application, verifies the reported information and determines whether the applicant qualifies for QMB, SLMB, QI or another NJSave benefit.

Watch for a Request for Information

NJSave may request:

• A missing statement page
• Updated income proof
• An explanation of a bank deposit or transfer
• A missing signature
• Verification of another account
• New proof of residence

Respond by the deadline printed on the notice. Missing proof can delay or close the application even when the applicant may otherwise qualify.

Keep Your Address Current

Contact NJSave if your home or mailing address changes while the application is pending. Otherwise, a document request or decision notice may be sent to the wrong address.

Check the Application Status

Call 1-800-792-9745 and keep the following nearby:

• Submission date
• Online confirmation number
• Copies of the application and documents
• Any NJSave letters or RFI notices

When Will the Part B Deduction Stop?

After QMB, SLMB or QI approval, New Jersey sends eligibility information to Medicare systems. The Part B premium may continue to be deducted temporarily while New Jersey, Medicare and Social Security update their records.

Keep the approval notice and check:

• The approved program
• The effective date
• Future Social Security or Railroad Retirement payments
• Medicare premium notices
• Any premium adjustment or refund notice

Contact NJSave if the deduction continues beyond the period explained in the approval notice. Do not immediately submit a duplicate application unless New Jersey advises you to do so.

Extra Help With Prescription Drug Costs

People approved for QMB, SLMB or QI generally receive automatic eligibility for Medicare Extra Help with Part D prescription costs.

Under Extra Help in 2026, eligible beneficiaries generally have:

• A $0 qualifying Part D plan premium
• A $0 Part D deductible
• Copayments of up to $5.10 for each covered generic drug
• Copayments of up to $12.65 for each covered brand-name drug

Drug costs may be lower for a person who also receives full Medicaid and QMB. Plan formularies, pharmacy networks and coverage rules still apply.

Review the official Medicare Extra Help information.

How to Renew a New Jersey Medicare Savings Program

Medicare Savings Program eligibility is reviewed periodically, and QI must be renewed each year.

The NJSave portal provides an MSP Renewal Application option. Follow the renewal notice and submit updated information before the stated deadline.

A renewal may require updated:

• Income proof
• Bank and investment records
• Residence proof
• Spouse information
• Marital-status information
• Signatures or authorization documents

Do not assume that continued Medicare enrollment automatically renews NJSave assistance.

Use our detailed Medicare Savings Program renewal guide.

What to Do if NJSave Denies the Application

Read the decision notice before submitting another application.

Check whether the denial involved:

• Income above the calculated limit
• Resources above the limit
• An account or property classified incorrectly
• Missing income proof
• Missing residence proof
• An unsigned application
• Missing spouse information
• A missed RFI deadline
• Medicare or Social Security information that could not be verified

Call NJSave and ask whether missing or incorrect information can be corrected. Submit updated records using the method stated in the notice and keep proof.

If you disagree with the final decision, follow the appeal or fair-hearing instructions and deadline printed on the notice. Do not assume that a telephone call or new application automatically preserves appeal rights.

Our guide on what to do when a Medicare Savings Program application is denied explains how to review the calculation and organize records.

Does MSP Assistance Cause Medicaid Estate Recovery?

Federal rules exclude Medicare cost-sharing paid for Medicare Savings Program beneficiaries from optional Medicaid estate recovery.

However, a person may receive an MSP together with other Medicaid services. Nursing facility care, home and community-based services and other full Medicaid benefits can involve separate estate-recovery rules.

Review the specific coverage and notices rather than assuming every Medicaid-funded benefit is treated like limited MSP assistance.

Our guide to Medicare Savings Programs versus Medicaid explains the difference.

New Jersey and Pennsylvania Use Different Application Systems

The MSP categories are federal, but each state controls its application process.

New Jersey uses NJSave for QMB, SLMB and QI. Pennsylvania uses COMPASS, County Assistance Offices and forms such as PA 600M.

For the latest state article in this series, read Pennsylvania Medicare Savings Program 2026 application guidance.

Final NJSave Application Checklist

New Jersey Medicare Savings Program FAQs

What application do I use for QMB, SLMB or QI in New Jersey?

Use the official NJSave application. New Jersey reviews one application and determines whether the applicant qualifies for QMB, SLMB, QI or another NJSave benefit.

Can I apply for an MSP online?

Yes. Use the official NJSave portal to start a new application, resume an existing application, attach RFI documents or complete an MSP renewal.

Can I apply by phone?

The main NJSave submission methods are the online portal and paper application. Call 1-800-792-9745 for instructions or 866-657-2835 for help completing the application.

Why does the paper application show older financial limits?

The current paper application is dated February 2025 and still shows 2025 limits. Continue using the official form unless New Jersey replaces it, but use current 2026 screening information and allow NJSave to calculate eligibility.

Do both spouses need separate applications?

If both spouses are applying with the paper form, each spouse completes a separate application. When only one spouse applies and the couple lives together, NJSave still requests spouse information and signatures.

Do I report my spouse’s income if my spouse is not applying?

Yes, when the applicant is married and living with the spouse. NJSave uses the requested information for both spouses when determining eligibility.

Do I send original documents?

No. Send readable copies and keep the originals. The current application warns that original supporting documents will not be returned.

Can someone help me apply?

Yes. Call 866-NJ-SAVE-5, contact a Senior Save Navigator, contact the county Area Agency on Aging or speak with a New Jersey SHIP counselor.

How do I send missing documents?

When NJSave sends an RFI, use the Attach RFI Documents option in the online portal or follow the return instructions printed on the notice. Do not start a duplicate application.

How do I renew my Medicare Savings Program?

The NJSave portal provides an MSP Renewal Application option. Follow the renewal notice and provide updated information before the deadline.

How do I check my NJSave application status?

Call 1-800-792-9745. Keep the submission date, confirmation number and NJSave letters available.

Will the Part B deduction stop immediately?

Not always. New Jersey, Medicare and Social Security must update their records. Keep the approval notice and contact NJSave if deductions continue beyond the approved period.

Does MSP approval include Extra Help?

QMB, SLMB and QI approval generally provides automatic eligibility for Medicare Extra Help with Part D costs.

Submit Your NJSave Application

You do not need to determine the final QMB, SLMB or QI category before applying. Complete one accurate NJSave application and provide the records needed to verify income, resources, residence and spouse information.

Use the NJSave online portal when you are comfortable applying electronically. Use the paper NJSave application when you prefer mailing the form and document copies.

Apply even when your finances are close to a screening limit. New Jersey applies countable-income and resource rules before making the final decision.

Keep proof of submission, watch for an RFI and respond before every deadline.