Medicaid is a health care program that has been adapted in the United States. This program provides health care to certain individuals whose income falls below poverty level. The program is funded by the federal government and the state, but it is overseen by the state. Just because a person falls into the poverty level does not automatically qualify them for Medicaid. There are certain other criteria the individual must meet.
Medicaid is usually given to households with children under 21, and still enrolled in school. Parents of the children may also receive Medicaid depending upon their income, but they have to be in the home and providing care for their children. Individuals who receive WorkFirst usually are qualified for Medicaid as well. Individuals who are disabled may qualify for Medicaid. Most disabled individuals who fall below the poverty level will qualify.
Medicare is a program which provides healthcare to individuals ages 65 and older. Some disabled individuals will qualify for Medicare, as will other special circumstance individuals. People who have paid into Medicare are eligible to receive it. Those who have spouses and neither of them have paid into the program are required to pay a deductible to receive Medicare. Individuals must have paid within the program within the last 10 years to be eligible to receive the health insurance. Some individuals are eligible to receive Medicare and Medicaid at the same time. This is usually disabled people with very low incomes. Medicare also covers individuals at the end of renal stage failure. There are two parts to Medicare, Part A, hospital Insurance. Part A covers some inpatient services, which allows the patient to stay overnight in a hospital and Part B, medical insurance.
Some of the obvious differences between Medicaid and Medicare are the age requirements. Anyone can receive Medicaid based upon their income, but with Medicare there comes more restrictions. A person has to have actually worked within ten years and contributed toward Medicare. Both health insurance will insure disabled individuals. Medicaid will normally cover the cost which Medicare will not for people 65 and older, or are disabled.
These health insurance both have their good and bad qualities about them, but in a time where a lot of individuals have no health insurance, it is great to have one or the other available.
Resources:
http://medicare-medicaid.com/general-medicaid/medicare-vs-medicaid/
http://www.residual-rewards.com/medicarevsmedicaid.html
