Medicaid and Medicare Differences and Similarities
Medicaid and Medicare are both government health insurance program. Medicaid supplements Medicare after you have used up the allowable or limited cost on your program. It pays for some of the things that Medicare does not cover such as home health care and out-patient prescription drugs.
Medicaid, compared to Medicare, offers a more comprehensive coverage. As mentioned above, it covers for home health care, out-patient medications, and offers complete coverage on hospitalizations. For elderly people or those 65 and older, it is best to have a Medicaid and Medicare. Not all hospitals and doctors accept Medicaid so it’s like a backup to have a Medicare for your medical needs.
If you are dual eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, you can have more benefits. Benefits for both health programs are coordinated and you can have a choice which medical plan or program to avail. If you have dual eligibility, you do not have to make monthly premium payments for medical drug plans.
It is still advisable to get supplemental health insurance coverage from private providers. This is because not all benefits are provided by Medicare or Medicaid. Elderly or retired persons needs long term care and daily medications and these are not provided for by these government or state run health insurance program. They are only there to assist but not to cover all medical expenses incurred by its members.
Medicaid focuses more on impoverished individuals especially children, pregnant women and person with disability. Each state has a different Medicaid program. They have federal guidelines to meet and additional funding is taken from state government funds. Medicare is taken from the taxes paid through paychecks. Certain portion of that tax goes to federal run health insurance. And we can use this to pay for some of our medical expense. Some parts of the Medicare program are provided by private health insurance so it gives additional coverage.
You can only start using your Medicare benefits when you have already retired or reached the age of 65. You can only qualify to use it if you are under Social Security Disable program of have kidney failure that goes thru frequent dialysis or in need of a kidney transplant. Medicaid benefits is readily available at whatever age but with limitations. Also, not all doctors accept Medicaid or Medicare cards. You still have to find one that accepts one or both of them to be but you can secure a list from Medicaid agencies or your local social service offices. This is helpful especially in emergency situations. You already know which hospital or doctor to go to instead of still finding one in the time of need. You can also ask your friends or co-employee if they can recommend a doctor that they know who accepts this government health insurance.
The cost of health care is becoming more and more expensive. Medicaid and Medicare are great financial support especially in hard times like today. They are great help in your retirement state and no longer capable of providing for health care and if you are in need of immediate medical attention.
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