Latest news with #QMB
Health Line
19-05-2025
- Health
- Health Line
What Is the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Program?
The Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program helps those with limited income and resources pay for costs associated with Medicare parts A and B (Original Medicare). Medicare savings programs (MSPs) help people with limited income and resources pay for the costs of Medicare. There are four different MSPs available. The Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program is one of them. To enroll in the QMB program, you must be eligible for Medicare Part A and meet certain income and resource limits. You can contact your state's Medicaid office to get specific information on your eligibility and the application process. The QMB program can help pay for Medicare costs including premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. Continue reading to explore the QMB program, who's eligible, and how you can enroll. How does QMB work with Medicare? The QMB program helps you pay for Medicare costs if you have lower income and resources. It's estimated that more than 1 in 8 Medicare beneficiaries were enrolled in the QMB program in 2023. Specifically, the program pays for: your Medicare Part A deductible your Medicare Part B deductible and monthly premiums other coinsurance and copayment costs associated with Medicare Part A and Part B coverage Extra Help If you qualify for the QMB program, you'll also qualify for Extra Help. This is a program that helps pay for the costs associated with a Medicare Part D prescription drug plans. Extra Help covers things like: monthly premiums deductibles copayments for prescriptions Some pharmacies may still charge a small copay for prescriptions covered under Part D. For 2025, the copayment will be no more than $4.90 for a covered generic drug and $12.15 for a covered brand-name drug. Extra Help only applies to Medicare Part D. It doesn't cover premiums and costs associated with Medicare Advantage (Part C) or Medigap (Medicare supplement insurance) plans. Additional tips for coverage If you're enrolled in the QMB program, the following tips will help ensure that your healthcare costs are covered: Let a healthcare professional know that you're enrolled in the QMB program. Show your Medicare and Medicaid cards or QMB program card any time you seek care. If you receive a bill that should be covered by the QMB program, contact the healthcare professional. Let them know that you're in the QMB program and cannot be billed for things like deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. If the healthcare professional continues to bill you, contact Medicare directly at 800-MEDICARE. They can help confirm with your healthcare professional that you're in the QMB program and refund any payments you've already made. QMB eligibility There are three different eligibility criteria for the QMB program. These include Medicare Part A eligibility, income limits, and resource limits. You can receive QMB benefits whether you have Original Medicare (parts A and B) or a Medicare Advantage plan. MSPs, including the QMB program, are administered through your state's Medicaid program. That means your state will determine whether or not you qualify. For example, different states may have different ways to calculate your income and resources. Let's examine each of the QMB program eligibility criteria in more detail below. Medicare Part A eligibility To enroll in the QMB program, you also need to be eligible for Medicare Part A. Generally, to be eligible for Part A you must be: 65 years or older any age and have a qualifying disability any age and have end stage renal disease (ESRD) or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) Income limits If you would like to enroll in the QMB program, you must meet certain monthly income limits. These limits depend on whether you're married or not. For 2025, the monthly income limits for the QMB program are: Individual: $1,325 per month Married couple: $1,783 per month Monthly income limits are higher in Alaska and Hawaii: Alaska: Individual: $1,650 Married couple: $2,223 Hawaii: Individual: $1,520 Married couple: $2,047 Because of this, people living in these states may still be eligible for the QMB program, even if their monthly incomes are higher. The monthly income limit for the QMB program increases each year. That means you should still apply for the program, even if your income goes up slightly. Resource limits In addition to a monthly income limit, there is also a resource limit for the QMB program. Items that count toward this limit include: money you have in checking and savings accounts stocks bonds Some resources, such as your house, car, and furniture, don't count toward the resource limit. Like income limits, the resource limits for the QMB program are different depending on whether or not you're married. For 2025, the resource limits for the QMB program are: Individual: $9,660 Married couple: $14,470 Resource limits also increase every year. As with income limits, you should still apply for the QMB program if your resources have slightly increased. How do I enroll? To see if you qualify and to get information on the application process, contact your state's Medicaid office. Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) may also be able to help if you have additional questions or concerns. The enrollment process requires you to fill out a short application form. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has a model form that can be found here. However, the form that you'll actually fill out may be slightly different, depending on your state. You may be asked to provide additional documentation as a part of your application process. This may include things like: pay stubs bank statements income tax return information If you're enrolled in the QMB program, you'll have to reapply for it each year. This is because your income and resources may change from one year to the next. Your state's Medicaid office can give you information about when and how to reapply. Applying for Extra Help If you qualify for the QMB program, you automatically qualify for Extra Help. You can enroll in the Extra Help program on the SSA website. Once you're enrolled in Extra Help, the SSA will review your income and resource status each year, typically at the end of August. Based on this review, your Extra Help benefits for the upcoming year may stay the same, be adjusted, or be terminated. The takeaway The QMB program is one of four MSPs. These programs help people with limited income and resources pay their Medicare out-of-pocket costs. These covered costs include premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copays associated with Medicare parts A and B. If you qualify for the QMB program, you'll also qualify for Extra Help. The QMB program has several different eligibility requirements. You must be eligible for Medicare Part A and meet specified income and resource limits.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nickel production disruption in Indonesia raises supply concerns
Indonesia's Morowali Industrial Park, a nickel-producing hub on Sulawesi Island, is facing a production halt and intensified scrutiny over nickel extraction methods following a landslide last month, reported Bloomberg. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of high-pressure acid leaching (HPAL) methods used in nickel extraction and the future of a critical supply source for the battery industry. While HPAL is cost-effective and less carbon-intensive, it produces nearly twice the tailings, requiring careful waste management to avoid production disruptions. The landslide occurred in a tailings area associated with PT QMB New Energy Materials, as reported by traders with knowledge of the matter. The incident resulted in two fatalities and one missing worker. Nearby nickel producers have also reduced their output, although they preferred to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the information. Indonesia, responsible for more than half of the world's nickel output, faces global supply risks if such outages continue, which is worrisome for battery manufacturers. GEM, the largest shareholder of QMB, responded to a Bloomberg query, stating that the production drop was due to scheduled maintenance and national holidays rather than the landslide. PT IMIP, the park manager, confirmed the landslide and casualties but denied any disruption to output, attributing the incident to prolonged heavy rainfall. Nickel traders in South East Asia and China have expressed concerns about the potential for repeated disruptions, especially with the increasing adoption of HPAL, a method that allows for the use of lower-grade ore for metal extraction but generates high volumes of waste. In the past five years, Indonesia has launched around ten HPAL plants, with Chinese investment and expertise playing a significant role. The rise of HPAL plants, with their associated waste management challenges, could revive concerns over environmental and safety standards. The Indonesian metals sector has witnessed several accidents since the rapid expansion of its nickel industry began a decade ago. The most severe was a smelter explosion in 2023 that killed 21 workers. Australia-based Energy Shift Institute managing director Putra Adhiguna said: 'These issues should not be treated as isolated cases in different companies. They reflect a broader industry problem.' PT IMIP has announced measures to improve standards and reduce geological disaster risks including land reclamation, levelling and reforestation. Despite these efforts, the full impact of the current production loss remains uncertain. Insiders suggest that QMB, with shareholders such as Tsingshan Holding Group and Guangdong Brunp Recycling Technology, will likely experience reduced output in April due to the ongoing government investigation into the accident. In the first quarter of the year, the plant shipped more than 25,000 tonnes of nickel, as per GEM's statement. In March 2025, the Indonesian Mining Association called on the government to rethink its proposal to raise royalty rates on mining products, citing growing operational costs and strained cash flows faced by miners. "Nickel production disruption in Indonesia raises supply concerns" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nickel production disruption in Indonesia raises supply concerns
Indonesia's Morowali Industrial Park, a nickel-producing hub on Sulawesi Island, is facing a production halt and intensified scrutiny over nickel extraction methods following a landslide last month, reported Bloomberg. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of high-pressure acid leaching (HPAL) methods used in nickel extraction and the future of a critical supply source for the battery industry. While HPAL is cost-effective and less carbon-intensive, it produces nearly twice the tailings, requiring careful waste management to avoid production disruptions. The landslide occurred in a tailings area associated with PT QMB New Energy Materials, as reported by traders with knowledge of the matter. The incident resulted in two fatalities and one missing worker. Nearby nickel producers have also reduced their output, although they preferred to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the information. Indonesia, responsible for more than half of the world's nickel output, faces global supply risks if such outages continue, which is worrisome for battery manufacturers. GEM, the largest shareholder of QMB, responded to a Bloomberg query, stating that the production drop was due to scheduled maintenance and national holidays rather than the landslide. PT IMIP, the park manager, confirmed the landslide and casualties but denied any disruption to output, attributing the incident to prolonged heavy rainfall. Nickel traders in South East Asia and China have expressed concerns about the potential for repeated disruptions, especially with the increasing adoption of HPAL, a method that allows for the use of lower-grade ore for metal extraction but generates high volumes of waste. In the past five years, Indonesia has launched around ten HPAL plants, with Chinese investment and expertise playing a significant role. The rise of HPAL plants, with their associated waste management challenges, could revive concerns over environmental and safety standards. The Indonesian metals sector has witnessed several accidents since the rapid expansion of its nickel industry began a decade ago. The most severe was a smelter explosion in 2023 that killed 21 workers. Australia-based Energy Shift Institute managing director Putra Adhiguna said: 'These issues should not be treated as isolated cases in different companies. They reflect a broader industry problem.' PT IMIP has announced measures to improve standards and reduce geological disaster risks including land reclamation, levelling and reforestation. Despite these efforts, the full impact of the current production loss remains uncertain. Insiders suggest that QMB, with shareholders such as Tsingshan Holding Group and Guangdong Brunp Recycling Technology, will likely experience reduced output in April due to the ongoing government investigation into the accident. In the first quarter of the year, the plant shipped more than 25,000 tonnes of nickel, as per GEM's statement. In March 2025, the Indonesian Mining Association called on the government to rethink its proposal to raise royalty rates on mining products, citing growing operational costs and strained cash flows faced by miners. "Nickel production disruption in Indonesia raises supply concerns" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
