Medicare Vs Chap's Health Care

Adults, 65 years old and older and people with disabilities are eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. Physician services and hospitalizations are covered by medicare. An additional supplemental program may be purchased to cover prescription drugs. Low income families and children may qualify for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Medicaid has significantly lower copays and out of pocket expenses compared to private insurance. Unemployed individuals may qualify for Medicaid depending on the state.

Medicare and Medicaid are programs that have been developed to assist Americans in attainment of quality health care. Both programs were established in 1965 and are federally supported to provide health care coverage to vulnerable populations such as the elderly, the disabled, and people with low incomes. Both Medicare and Medicaid are federally mandated and determine coverage under each program; both are run by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, a federal agency ("What is Medicare? What is Medicaid?” 2008).

Medicaid is a social health care program that covers nearly 60 million Americans, including children, pregnant women, seniors, parents and individuals suffering with disabilities. Medicaid is the biggest source of funding for health related services and medical needs for the people with low income in the United States. This program is funded jointly by the state and federal level governments, but it is the state’s responsibility to manage this program. The Medicaid program is not a required program that states have to use, but all 50 states have implemented this program. With the introduction of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and its passing in 2010, the ACA unveiled its plans to expand Medicaid eligibility to nearly all low-income adults as an addition to the other groups that fall into the Medicaid eligibility. The Medicaid program had “many gaps in coverage for adults” because it was only restricted to the low income individuals and other people with needs in their own specific category. In the past, the majority of the states who had adults that did not have children dependent on those parents were not eligible for Medicaid. These low income adults without dependent children would be without medical insurance assistance before the ACA was introduced. Medicaid is now available to all Americans under the age of 65 whose family income is at or below the federal poverty guideline of “133 percent or $14,484 for an individual and $29,726 for a family of four in 2011” (NSCL).

The federal and state governments are the largest supporters of health care services in the United States. Examples of support that our government provides include assisting those who are in need of health care with numerous options such as Medicare and Medicaid, the employment of millions of people, and billions of dollars each year for new discoveries, treatments, and cures. The government does indeed offer great assistance with programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, two of the largest programs that the government is involved in. Not only does the government provide those who are in need with Medicare and Medicaid, but there is also the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). These programs provided by the government are there to help those who cannot afford insurance. Insurance is not affordable to many families due to the economy and I feel that just because a family or an individual cannot afford insurance does not mean they should not be able to

There are three sources of health insurance coverage, private insurance, Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare is the federal government primary health coverage for those over the age of 65; all persons in this age group are eligible for some basic coverage by Medicare. Although some may only be covered for Medicare part A (hospital coverage only) or part B (physician coverage), but most are covered for both. But for those who are not covered by both, again, presents the problem of being underinsured, which causes the problem of not seeking the medical attention when it is needed. Medicaid is the government?s program for those who are poor and those with disabilities. Private insurance is simply for those who could afford it when it is not offered by the

Medicaid initially established that each state is responsible for designing their medical costs to pay medical care for the poor. Also, Medicaid created as a voluntary program for each state; they have to have the choice to participate. For one thing, because of the rising costs of healthcare, it has been difficult to bring Medicaid recipients into the “mainstream” of United States (U.S.) medical care. Donald R. Barr notes, “between 1975 and 1989, the cost of the Medicaid program increased by an average of 11.9 percent per year before adjusting for inflation” (172). The rising costs of healthcare are necessary for each state to determine if it is beneficial for them to participate in the Medicaid program. As the government level of payment is determined by each state economic condition. For instance, a state with lower per capita income will receive more government funding. A state with higher per capita income receives less reimbursement for program costs. Therefore, on December 31, 2010, many states continued to experience budget cuts. As a result on August 2010, Congress increased reimbursement rates through June 2011.

Medicare and Medicaid are both government sponsored programs but differ in who they cover and how they are governed and funded.

Working to keep children healthy is something that all governmental opponents can agree on. Medicaid and CHIP together provides health care coverage for low-income families. Both of these programs are jointly financed by the states and the federal government, but are largely administered by the states within extensive federal rules. Funding for this program is set to expire at the end of September of 2015. Although these programs differ in many ways, including financing, benefits and cost-sharing, it’s very beneficial to many children whose parents make too much money to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough for private health insurance.

Medicaid and Medicare are two different government programs. Both programs were created in 1965 to help older and low-income families be able to have their own health insurance. These programs were part of President Lyndon Johnson’s plan, a commitment to helping meet the needs of individual health care. Medicaid is largest single private health insurance program. Medicare and Medicaid are helpful to those individuals who qualify; they are not available to everyone. I will discuss in this paper the definitions, similarities and differences of Medicare and Medicaid.

The Medicaid program is a federal health insurance program for the under-privileged and incapacitated. The plan is managed by states within comprehensive limits instituted by the federal government. Together the federal and state governments finance the program, with the federal share ranging from 50 percent to 74 percent. Now Medicaid currently makes up 7 percent of the federal budget and 23.7 percent of all state expenses. Approximately sixty million people are enrolled in the Medicaid program and 400 million is spent annually.

The Medicaid program is jointly financed by the federal government and states. The federal government pays states for a specific proportion of program expenses, called the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP). FMAP varies by state based upon criteria such as per capita income. There are no intermediary like Medicare’s HMO and PPO, so payments are made directly to providers. Medicaid covers health insurance up to 400% of Federal Poverty Line for those who are under age 65 and poor and/or disabled through income and excise taxes. Elderly over age 65 who are poor are dual eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. There is an employer-based insurance (EBI) and cost share is between employees and employers.

Medicaid is a jointly funded federal-state health insurance program. This program provides free or low cost health insurance to low income people, families and children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with disabilities. (HealthCare.Gov, n.d.) The funding comes from several sources; the federal government guarantees

Medicaid is the largest source of health coverage available in the United States that provides health coverage to United States residents including seniors, children, pregnant women, and individuals with disabilities. To participate in Medicaid, federal law requires states to cover mandatory eligibility groups of individuals such as low-income families, qualified pregnant women and children, and individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income; each state may choose to cover residents who receive home and community based services and children who are in foster care (Medicaid, 2017).

The United States appears to have fallen behind in creating availability to all citizens the benefits of health insurance. In 1997, the government created the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to expand health care for children were families were not eligible for Medicaid ("About CHIP - Center for Children and Families," n.d.). Since creation, the CHIP program has offered a percentage of federally matched funds to states for the public programs. States receive a minimum of 50 percent funding, however, some receive additional percentages based on their “three-year moving average of the state’s per capita income, relative to the national average” (Patrick, Choi, & Davis, 2012). In March 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was enacted

Medicaid.gov stated, that benefits from CHIP vary from state to state and that the benefits from the different types of programs themselves vary in their own ways (Medicaid.gov). Very interesting not only do the benefits of the CHIP program very from each state but also that in the Children’s Health Insurance Program itself there are other benefits that come from the different types of options that come with CHIP. For example, the Medicaid Expansion CHIP provide customers with the most basic kind of benefits that typically allows them to have Early and Periodic screening Diagnostic and Treatment services (EPSDT) like mental health and dental procedures (Medicaid.gov). Ultimately, the Medicaid Expansion package is the cheapest one that a child could receive while insured with CHIP because it is the most basic and possibly the cheapest type of benefit to go with considering the services it provides. Along with the Medicaid Expansion package for CHIP people can choose other options like the Benchmark Equivalent Coverage, which allows