What is the difference between medicaid and medicare

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Working Past Medicare Costs. Shopping for Medicare. What Is Medicare? What Is Medicaid? What Do Medicare and Medicaid Cover? How Much Does Medicaid Cost? How Much Does Medicare Cost? Video transcript Gentle music plays as two speech bubbles with text appear over a blue background.

A question appears beside a yellow circle labeled DSNP. A pile of books sits on an end table beside her. A final circle appears with an animated woman in front of it. So, let's go ahead and get started. A blue Medicare circle appears beside a white Medicaid circle. A dollar sign hovers over an orange bar that represents income. The bar shrinks below a dotted line labeled Poverty Level.

A question appears beside a calendar. A timeline shows all the months of the year. Boxes appear over January and April and get checked off. A yellow DSNP circle appears with text. A blue medical cross expands in the middle that reads DSNP. An animated form with DSNP at the top appears beside a question. A circle labeled Benefits sports a blue medical cross. An animated car appears with the word Transportation. State regulations for Medigap plans do vary considerably, however. Federal rules do not require Medigap insurers to offer coverage to disabled enrollees under age 65, but the majority of the states have implemented their own rules to ensure at least some access to Medigap plans for these enrollees.

You can click on a state on this map to see applicable Medigap rules. Most states use private insurers to administer at least some Medicaid benefits.

This is because Medicaid is mostly only paying for your Medicare cost-sharing and premiums at this point. Some states use private insurers to deliver specific types of Medicaid benefits — like long-term care — while providing other Medicaid benefits using fee-for-service. As of , This happens when a person has Medicare because they are elderly or disabled and also qualifies for Medicaid due to their financial situation. Dual eligibles receive fragmented care under Medicare and Medicaid — navigating two different systems in order to receive treatment.

The law also allowed insurers to offer specialized plans that include both Medicare and Medicaid benefits. Medicare benefits can also be extended to:. Eligibility for Medicaid is based primarily on income. Whether or not someone qualifies depends on income level and family size. The Affordable Care Act has extended coverage to fill in the healthcare gaps for those with the lowest incomes, establishing a minimum income threshold constant across the country. To find out if you qualify for assistance in your state, visit Healthcare.

For the majority of adults under age 65, eligibility is an income lower than percent of the federal poverty level. According to Healthcare. Children are afforded higher income levels for Medicaid and the CHIP based on the individual standards of their state of residence. There are also special programs within the Medicaid program that extend coverage to groups in need of immediate assistance, such as pregnant women and those with pressing medical needs. There are several parts of the Medicare program that offer coverage for different aspects of healthcare.

Medicare Part A is provides coverage for many inpatient medical care, such as hospital stays, hospice services, and limited skilled nursing care and home healthcare.

Medicare Part B is the outpatient medical portion. It offers coverage for items and services including outpatient hospital care, physician appointments, preventive care, and certain medical equipment. These plans may also include other benefits for an extra cost, like dental and vision, as well as prescription drug coverage.

Medicare Part D is run by approved plans according to federal rules and helps pay for prescription drugs. The benefits covered by Medicaid vary by state, but there are some benefits included in every program. Because Medicaid is different in each state, you may want to connect with a caseworker in your state to assess your situation and get help applying. People who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid are considered dual eligible.

Medicare and Medicaid are two U. Medicare typically covers citizens age 65 and over and those with certain chronic conditions or disabilities, while Medicaid eligibility is mainly based on income level and need.