Medicaid
In the United States is a program managed by the states
and funded jointly by the states and federal government
to provide health insurance for individuals and families
with low incomes and resources. Medicaid is the largest
source of funding for medical and health-related services
for people with limited income. Among the groups of people
served by Medicaid are eligible low-income parents, children,
seniors, and people with disabilities.
Medicaid was created on July 30, 1965 through Title XIX
of the Social Security Act. Each state administers its
own Medicaid program while the federal Centers for Medicare
and Mediciad Services (CMS) (formerly the Health Care
Financing Administration) in the United States Department
of Health and Human Services monitors the state-run programs
and establishes requirements for service delivery, quality,
funding, and eligibility standards.
Medicaid policies for eligibility, services, and payment
are complex and vary considerably, even among states of
similar size or geographic proximity. A person who is
eligible for Medcaid in one state may not be eligible
in another state, and the services provided by one state
may differ considerably in amount, duration, or scope
from services provided in a similar or neighboring State.
In addition, state legislatures may change Medicaid eligibility,
services, and/or reimbursement during the year.
State participation in Medicaid is voluntary; however,
all states have participated since 1982. In some states
Medcaid pays private health insurance companies that contract
with the state Medicaid program, while other states pay
providers (i.e., doctors, clinics and hospitals) directly
to ensure that individuals receive proper medical attention.
The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
was established in 1997.
In addition, other programs may exist in some localities
that are funded by the states or their political subdivisions
to provide health coverage for indigents and minors. There
is also general confusion about the differences between
Meidicaid and Medicare (United States), which is an entirely
federal health insurance program available for people
age 65 or older, younger people with disabilities, and
a few other groups. While Medicaid and Medicare cover
similar groups, they are entirely different programs.
For example, Meidcaid covers a wider range of health care
services than Medicare and does not have premiums or deductibles
like Medicare. In 2001, about 6.5 million Americans were
enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid.
Eligibility
According to CMS there are 25 different eligibility categories
that are classified into five broad coverage groups:
* Pregnant women
* Children and teenagers
* People who are aged
* People who are blind
* People who are disabled
• Abdominoplasty
• Wealthy
• Liposuction
• Mesotherapy
Also see:
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
• Gastric
Bypass
• Health
Insurance
• Medicare
• For financing
of health procedures.
• For patient
loans.
• This article is licensed under the GNU
Free Documentation License. It uses material from
the Wikipedia
article "Medicaid".
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