Government Programs Address Healthcare Needs

While Medicare and Medicaid are both government programs established to help people with the cost of medical care, they service entirely different populations. The most critical difference is that Medicare is a federally-funded program geared primarily to people 65 and over regardless of income, while Medicaid is a joint state and federal program that services low income people.

Medicaid is specifically targeted to low income pregnant women, children under the age of 19, people 65 and older, people who are disabled, people who are blind and people who require nursing home care. To apply for Medicaid you must go to the agency that runs the program in your state. Though Medicaid coverage is different from state to state, it does provide coverage for basic home health care and medical equipment in all states.

Medicare was created primarily to help people who are 65 and over pay for their medical care. The program also applies to people of any age who become disabled and cannot work, or have kidney failure or long-term kidney disease. Medicare has two parts that cover hospital care and doctor visits. It does not pay all health care expenses and those who become eligible usually buy supplement insurance from private insurers to augment their Medicare coverage.

It is possible to qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid, which is called being “dual eligible.” In instances like these, Medicaid can be used to help pay for Medicare premiums. Medicaid may also pay for personal home care, and other services that are not covered by Medicare.