Medicaid and Medicare are two government projects that offer health services to specific groups of people in the United States. Medicare provides a social insurance program, while Medicaid is concerned with the social welfare of the people. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) oversees the two programs. Medicare offers financial security as well as healthcare services to the elderly and young people living with disabilities. Even though it is voluntary for states to join the Medicaid program, all states have acceded to cover their population’s health services. Medicaid provides services to pregnant women, low-income individuals, the elderly, children, as well as the disables margin. This paper focuses on providing a summary of Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The three types of services that Medicaid program covers include long-term services and supports, acute-care, and primary services. However, not all individuals enrolled under this program are eligible for all three services. In other words, eligibility for the type of service is determined by both state and federal law (Mitchell et al., 2017, p. 2). Medicaid enrollees are only entitled to receive assistance in terms of benefits that include managed care or fee-for-service system care. The criteria for qualification of any of the three types of services is protected to the public. Nonetheless, citizenship, age, assets, pregnancy status, and disability status are common factors considered for Medicaid eligibility.
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Even though Medicaid is a health program that serves certain groups of participants based on their eligibility, it also considers participants’ financial ability to determine the type of service that best fits enrollees. However, the financial aspect is not a determinant factor for the aged and people living with disability population (Mitchell et al., 2017, p. 4). Regardless of financial status being a significant determinant for one to obtain Medicaid support, the program supports the most vulnerable and most deprived in society. Medicaid also offers long-term nursing home care services to its eligible participants.
Medicare is a health insurance program that supports the aged and older people living with disabilities regardless of their medical history, health, and income status. The program covers not only the aged but also young persons with disabilities. This federal program helps people cater their health care services entailing prescription drugs, hospitalizations, preventive services, physician visits, home medical care, skilled nursing facility, and hospice care (Rajaram & Bilimoria, 2015, p. 3). Medicare programs divide its services into four parts that include part A, hospital insurance, part B, medical insurance, part C Medicare Advantage Plans, and part D; Prescription Drug Coverage.
Most eligible people for Medicare live with many chronic conditions. They also have limited daily activities and earn modest wages. Unlike the traditional Medicare that did not support most of the medical services, the new Medicare program caters to most health care services, including prescription drugs. Medicare financial support comes from payroll tax contributions, beneficiary premiums, general incomes, along with other sources (Rajaram & Bilimoria, 2015, p. 17). Unlike Medicaid, Medicare only offers short-term healthcare service after one recover from a hospital stay.
In conclusion, Medicare and Medicaid are both government-funded programs that offer health-related services to specific persons in the U.S. Both programs support the aged, people living with disabilities, and the poorest. Medicaid offers long-term medical care to patients even after recovery from the hospital, while Medicare only renders short-term support. For one to be eligible for Medicaid coverage, they have to be U.S citizens, aged, have a disability, or face modest income. However, Medicaid overlooks the financial aspect when it comes to the old and people with disabilities. Funds for supporting Medicare program comes from payroll tax contributions, beneficiary premiums, general incomes, along with other sources.
References
Mitchell, A., Baumrucker, E. P., Colello, K. J., Napili, A., & Binder, C. (2017). Medicaid: An Overview (R43357). Congressional Research Service. https://crsreports.congress.gov
Rajaram, R., & Bilimoria, K. Y. (2015). Medicare. JAMA , 314 (4), 420. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2015.8049
