What is Medicaid?

Posted in Health Insurance , Medicaid

March 16th, 2009

Medicaid is a federally and state funded medical program to provide medical coverage to America’s poor. The program is managed on the state level which causes the name to vary across the nation. Children under the age of 19, pregnant women who live under the federal poverty level, as well aslow-income children under age 6, Supplemental Security Income recipients, adopted or foster children and specially protected groups and other cases determined by the state are able take advantage of the Medicaid program.

The Medicaid and Medicare programs (which are completely different), were signed into law 1965 by PresidentLyndon B. Johnson. The programs were part of the Social Security act of the time.Medicare was implemented in 1966 and more than 19 million individuals officially joined the programon July 1.

Since the initial introduction of the Medicaid program, there have been several revisions to help improve the level of service that qualifying individuals may receive. Currently Medicaid provides medical care including free maternity care, hospital and doctor’s visits,emergency room visits, prescription drugs and also dental coverage. Please note the dental coverage is optional for those adults over the age of 21.

There have been several historic milestones for Medicaid. Over time the program has evolved to cover neglected groups such asthe elderly, blind or disabled, and since the 1980′s, the home health services provided by Medicaid have been expanded and as the health needs of the American population continues to evolve.

If the current administration has its way, Medicaid may experience more changes in the upcoming years. Both President Obama and Vice-President Biden are not pleased with the current state of the American health care system. Theadministration’sgoal is to build and expand on the current systems in place, including Medicaid, Medicare, and Medigap, further providing for Medicaid’s next evolutionary stage.