Medicaid - Title XIX

Medicaid is different from Medicare. Medicare is health insurance for some disabled or elderly (age 65 +) people. A person can have both Medicaid and Medicare.

Medicaid is a grant-in-aid program in which the Federal and State governments share the cost of providing medical care for needy persons who have low income. The program was authorized by Title XIX of the Social Security Act of 1965.

Because the cost of the Medicaid program is shared by the State and Federal governments, States are given some flexibility in providing coverage to its needy citizens. For this reason, the rules for Medicaid coverage vary from State-to-State. An individual who is eligible in one State may not necessarily be eligible in another State. Therefore, there are mandatory coverage groups, which the Federal government requires each State to cover, and optional coverage groups which the State has chosen to cover.

Each State:

Establishes its own eligibility standards;
Determines the type, amount, duration, and scope of services;
Sets the rate of payment for services; and
Administers its own program.

We suggest you look through some of the following links:

(Medicaid Eligibility)

Medicaid may not necessarily be the best answer. Seriously consider other funding methods for senior care such as acquiring a Long Term Care Policy while you are still healthy.