Medicaid
The joint federal and state program paying health costs for roughly 72 million low income Americans.
Overview
States run the program under federal rules and receive a matching share of costs from Washington ranging from 50 to over 70 percent. Coverage extends to low income children, pregnant women, seniors, and people with disabilities, and under the ACA expansion states may cover nearly all adults below 138 percent of the poverty line. Benefits run deeper than typical private plans with minimal cost sharing, though lower provider payment rates limit acceptance among some doctors. Medicaid pays for most nursing home care in the United States, which ties it to estate recovery rules and eligibility planning questions after a beneficiary dies.
Related Topics
Health Maintenance Organization
Members choose a primary doctor who manages care and writes referrals to specialists, and care outside the network is generally no...
Preferred Provider Organization
Members can see specialists without referrals, the main convenience over HMOs. In network care might be covered at 80 or 90 percen...
High Deductible Health Plans
Until the deductible is met members pay the full negotiated price for most care, though preventive services are exempt from the th...
Health Savings Accounts
Contributions are deductible, growth is untaxed, and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are tax free, a combination no oth...