Ever wish you had a quick way to tell the difference between Medicaid and Medicare? Maybe the following will help.
*Medicare is a federally funded entitlement program for those 65 years-old and certain other disabled people.
* Medicare does not require your income to meet certain low-income standards.
^Medicaid is a federally funded social program that is also an entitlement.
^ Medicaid is funded by both state and federal tax dollars; there are certain income, age and status requirements that must be met in order to be eligible.
*Medicare covers the same services throughout the United States depending on your coverage (A,B, &/or D).
^Medicaid’s benefit package is determined by each state, choosing from the broad array of services designated by the federal government’s Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This means that what you receive in one state will not necessarily be covered in another state. The following services are mandatory in every state:
• Outpatient hospital services;
• Inpatient hospital services;
• Physician services and medical and surgical
services of a dentist;
• Nursing facility services and home health services
for those aged 21 or older;
• Family planning services and supplies;
• Rural health clinic and federally qualified health;
center (FQHC) services;
• Laboratory and x-ray services;
• Nurse practitioner services;
• Nurse-midwife services; and
• Early and periodic screening for children under age 21.
Hope this helps you when trying to understand the difference between the two. It can help you when you are trying to navigate the health care system with your mom and dad.
If you have any questions, please leave them in the “comments” section, under this article and I will be happy to answer!
