What is Medicaid?

Everybody deserves a good health. It is person’s fundamental right and with good health, comes personal empowerment and better quality of life. However, people residing in the low or middle income bracket may not afford adequate medical care, and that is where Medicaid comes to play.

Each state has its own autonomy regarding matters relating to Medicaid, in the sense that the state authorities sets its own regulations pertaining to services included and eligibility. Individuals who are eligible for Medicaid includes those from low-income groups, provided that they are recognized by both state and federal law and regulations. To prevent abuse to the system, Medicaid makes payments directly to health care practitioners instead of paying it to you. In some instances, you might be required to fork out a small amount (co-payment) for certain health services.

Medicaid is considered a safety net for many vulnerable groups of people, including people at extreme ends of age, disability, low income level, pregnancy, and whether you are a U.S citizen or legal immigrant. The laws for assessing your assets differ between states and groups. However, there are special exceptions for the elderly residing in nursing homes and children with disability.

If your child is a U.S. citizen or a legal immigrant, he or she might be considered for Medicaid coverage, provided that a 5-year limit still applies for permanent residents. If you are caring for another person’s child, the child might be eligible for this program although you may not because your assets are not included in the child’s evaluation. In a nutshell, eligibility for kids is based solely on the child and not the parent’s.

In conclusion, Medicaid is only for people with low income levels that match the features described in the program. In case of doubts, have an appropriately qualified counselor to assess your case.