This is a Medicaid program for beneficiaries who need help in paying for Medicare Part B premiums For those who qualify, the Medicaid program pays full Medicare Part B premiums only Eligibility begins the month of application, and if eligible, retroactively for up to 3 months Note: There can be a lag time before SSA is able to stop taking the premiums out of the recipient's benefit check, but the recipient will be reimbursed by SSA for all months eligible for SLMB and/or QMB or QI. The reverse is true when these programs terminate: recipients should be told to put aside premium costs from first month of termination on.