Medicare and Medicaid are government programs that provide medical and other health-related services to specific individuals in the United States. Medicaid is a social welfare program, or social protection program, while Medicare is a social insurance program.
What is Medicaid?
Medicaid is a health and medical services program available for low-income households with few resources, however, applicants must meet certain criteria to qualify which may vary between states.
Each state makes its own decisions regarding what its Medicaid plans provide, but they must meet certain federal requirements to receive federal matching funds.
Each state sets its own Medicaid eligibility guidelines for people in low-income households. Some eligibility requirements relate to:
– assets
– age
– pregnancy
– disability
– citizenship
What is Medicare?
A federal health insurance program, Medicare helps fund hospital and medical care for older people in the country. Some people with certain disabilities also benefit from Medicare.
The program has four parts:
– Part A and Part B that cover hospital and medical insurance
– Part C and Part D that cover flexibility and prescription drugs
Medicare Part A
Medicare Part A helps pay for hospital stays and other services which includes:
– meals
– supplies
– testing
– semi-private room
Medicare Part B
Medicare Part B, also known as outpatient medical insurance, helps pay for specific services including:
– necessary doctor’s visits
– outpatient hospital visits
– home health care costs
– services for older people and those suffering from a disability
– preventive care services
Medicare Part C
Medicare Part C, which is also known as Medicare Advantage Plans or Medicare+ Choice, lets users design a custom plan that suits their medical situation more closely and provide everything in Part A and Part B, but may also offer services like dental, vision, or hearing treatment.
Medicare Part D
This prescription drug plan was added later in 2006 and offers plans that vary in cost and cover different lists of drugs.
In order to be eligible for Medicare, an individual should fit into the following criteria:
– age over 65 years
– age under 65 years but living with a disability
– any age with permanent kidney failure or needing dialysis or transplant or end-stage renal disease
They also have to be:
– a U.S. citizen or a permanent legal resident for at least 5 consecutive years
– eligible for Social Security benefits with at least 10 continuous years of payment
