Medicaid is a program that can help pay for the cost of healthcare if you have a low income and limited assets. It is paid by federal and state governments. The program is sometimes called Medical Assistance or Title 19.
You are automatically eligible for Medicaid if you get:
Generally, people who qualify for Medicaid are women, children, and older or disabled adults. You may be eligible for Medicaid if your medical costs are higher than your income.
To get Medicaid, you must prove that you have few assets. The level of assets allowed varies by state and whether you are married. If you are married, the spouse at home is allowed to have about $60,000 in assets, not counting a house. If you are single, you must have few or no assets.
Medicaid rules change. Also, Medicaid programs vary somewhat from state to state. For more information, check with your local social services department.
Each state decides what will be covered under Medicaid. Usually Medicaid covers:
Medicaid pays for most of the nursing facility costs in the US. In some states, Medicaid covers assisted-living care and adult day care programs if these services keep you from needing to be in a nursing facility.
If you qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid, most of your healthcare costs will be covered. Medicare pays first. Medicaid covers the copayments. (Copayments are the part of Medicare costs you would otherwise have to pay.) Medicaid also pays for things Medicare does not, such as eyeglasses and hearing aids.
Other programs that help pay costs not covered by Medicare are the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) and Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) programs. If you are eligible for these programs, your state's Medicaid program may pay:
