In our previous post I shared some initial background on Medicare. Sometimes I get a lot of questions about Medicaid when discussing Medicare.

 It does cause some confusion.  They are not the same, but there can be instances in which some Medicare beneficiaries may have both.

Here is a little background information on Medicaid.

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What’s Medicaid?

Medicaid is a state-run program that provides hospital and medical coverage for people with low income. Each state has its own rules about who’s eligible and what Medicaid covers.

Some people qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. For more information about the Medicaid program, contact your local medical assistance agency, social services office, or get state contact information at 

www.Medicaid.gov.

In order to qualify for Medicaid in a state, you must be resident of that state and a U.S. citizen (or have qualified immigration status). Each state has different rules about eligibility and applying for Medicaid.

If you qualify for Medicaid in your state, you automatically qualify for Extra Help paying your Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D).

You may be eligible for Medicaid if you have limited income and are:

• 65 or older
• A child under 19
• Pregnant
• Living with a disability
• A parent or adult caring for a child
• An adult without dependent children (in certain states)

In many states, more parents and other adults can get coverage now. If you were turned down in the past, you can try again and may qualify.

When you enroll, you may be able to get health care benefits like:

• Doctor visits
• Hospital stays
• Long-term services and supports
• Preventive care, including immunizations, mammograms, colonoscopies, and other needed care
• Prenatal and maternity care
• Mental health care
• Necessary medications
• Vision and dental care (for children)

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You should apply for Medicaid if you or someone in your family needs health care. If you aren’t sure whether you qualify, a qualified caseworker in your state can look at your situation. Contact your State Medical Assistance (Medicaid) office to see if you qualify and to apply.

That completes our short session Medicaid. 

On our next post we will be discussing Eligibility and Medicare. 

Got questions? Contact me – I am here to help.