There are two government-sponsored health insurance programs available to Americans: Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare primarily covers adults 65 and over, while Medicaid covers low-income individuals and families. Medicaid is jointly funded by the states, so eligibility for the program varies. Medicare eligibility, conversely, is standardized across the nation. Here is a look at the differences between Medicare and Medicaid.
Medicare vs. Medicaid chart
Medicare | Medicaid | |
|---|---|---|
When did it begin? | 1965 | 1965 |
Who funds it? | The federal government | Federal & state governments |
Who runs it? | The federal government | State governments |
Who is primarily eligible? | Americans 65 & over | Low-income, needy Americans |
What can it cover? | Hospital/doctor care & medication | Hospital/doctor care & medication |
Coverage varies by | What plans you buy | Income & state guidelines |
What does it cost? | Varies, but includes premiums, deductibles & copays | Varies, but can include low out-of-pocket costs |
Where can you apply? | Through the Social Security Administration | Healthcare.gov or state Medicaid website |
What is Medicare?
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for Americans and permanent U.S. citizens 65 and over. Younger Americans with certain disabilities or illnesses, including Lou Gehrig’s disease and terminal kidney failure, are also eligible for Medicare. However, Medicare is primarily thought of as a social health insurance program designed to help retired Americans pay their medical expenses. It's not free. Medicare is funded by taxpayer dollars and premiums paid by beneficiaries.
Income does not affect your Medicare eligibility. In fact, Americans 65 and over who are receiving federal retirement benefits are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B (jointly known as Original Medicare).
Americans who are 65, but not yet on federal retirement benefits, have to enroll in Original Medicare during an 11-month initial enrollment period. It kicks off three months before you turn 65 and ends three months after your 65th birthday. If you miss initial enrollment, you can only sign up for Medicare during a special or general enrollment period.
Medicare is run by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), but, given its relationship to retirement benefits, if you aren’t automatically enrolled, you must apply through the Social Security Administration.
Learn more about applying for Medicare.
What does Medicare cover?
Medicare comes in four different parts, each responsible for covering different health care costs:
Medicare Part A covers inpatient medical services and supplies. Think of it as hospital insurance.
Medicare Part B covers outpatient medical services and supplies. Think of it as doctor insurance.
Medicare Part C is a private alternative to Original Medicare. It must cover everything Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B covers, but most plans — known as Medicare Advantage plans — cover additional services, including vision, dental, hearing and prescription drug coverage.
Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage beneficiaries purchase through federally approved private health care insurers.
Your specific coverage varies depending on what route you go. The big choice Medicare beneficiaries face is whether to opt for Original Medicare and purchase a Medicare Part D plan or to enroll in Original Medicare and purchase a Medicare Part C plan to serve as their primary coverage.
Our partner Via Benefits can help you compare and purchase Medicare plans in your area.
How much does Medicare cost?
The cost of Medicare varies, depending on your elections, state and income. However, Medicare beneficiaries are generally expected to pay premiums, deductibles and coinsurance or copays once they enroll.
Learn more about the costs of Medicare.
What is Medicaid?
Medicaid is a jointly funded federal and state health insurance program for needy Americans. It’s voluntary, meaning states can offer Medicaid to residents, but they don’t have to. If a state offers Medicaid — and every one currently does — they must meet certain parameters to obtain federal funding. But they also have a lot of control over eligibility and covered services, which is why Medicaid programs vary so widely from state to state. Having said that, Medicaid qualifications are broadly based on:
Income
Disability
Pregnancy
Age
Household size
Household role (There are programs for parents/caretakers)
CMS monitors Medicaid programs, but they are administered by their respective states. You can find a state-by-state guide to Medicaid requirements here. If you qualify, you can apply for the program through Healthcare.gov all year round.
Medicaid expansion
Former president Barack Obama’s health care law attempted to standardize Medicaid requirements across states to cover any American making up to 133% of the federal poverty line in exchange for more federal funding. That provision was ultimately overturned by the Supreme Court and, like the Medicaid program itself, became optional.
To date, 33 states (plus Washington, D.C.) have expanded Medicaid. However, several of these states, including Arkansas, Indiana and Kentucky, have added work requirements to their expansion programs. To keep coverage, low-income individuals in this group must work, train, volunteer, take classes or engage in other job-related activities to keep their coverage. Medicare — which is primarily for retirees — does not have work requirements.
What does Medicaid cover?
Broadly, Medicaid covers major medical expenses, but specific services and prescription drug coverage varies by state. Each state, however, is required by the federal government to cover the following care in order to receive funding:
Inpatient and outpatient hospital services
Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment Services (EPSDT)
Nursing facility care
Home health care
Physician care
Rural health clinic services
Federally qualified health center services
Laboratory tests and X-rays
Family planning services
Nurse Midwife services
Certified pediatric and family Nurse practitioner care
Freestanding Birth Center services (if licensed or recognized by the state)
Transportation to medical care
Tobacco cessation counseling for pregnant women
Optional covered services include prescription drug, physical therapy, occupational therapy and dental, vision or hearing insurance.
How much does Medicaid cost?
States can require Medicaid beneficiaries to pay nominal premiums, deductibles and copays/coinsurance for services and prescription drugs. These out-of-pocket costs are capped, but those caps are based on how much the states pay for services, so they’ll vary by where you live, what your income is and what care you’ve received.
Certain Medicaid beneficiaries are exempt from most or all out-of-pocket costs. These beneficiaries typically include pregnant women, children, terminally ill individuals and patients living in a health care institutions.
Can you get Medicaid if you have Medicare?
Some low-income, elderly Americans are “dual-eligible” for Medicare and Medicaid. These individuals are enrolled in Original Medicare, but receive Medicaid benefits through a Medicare Savings Program. These programs include:
Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Program, which helps cover Original Medicare premiums, deductibles and coinsurance/copayments
Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) Program or Qualifying Individual Program, which both helps cover Medicare Part B premiums
Qualified Disabled Working Individual (QDWI) Program, which pays Medicare Part A premiums for certain disabled Americans who still are working
Learn more about Medicare Savings Programs.
CMS releases the criteria for each dual-eligibility each year. Given these programs tap Medicaid resources, they are income-driven. You can find 2020 requirements here.
If you have both Medicare and Medicaid, Medicare serves as your primary form of coverage. Medicaid only pays for health care services or supplies after Medicare, employer group health plans, and/or Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Insurance have been exhausted.
