When speaking about public benefits, people often confuse Medicare and Medicaid. After all, they do basically the same thing, right? Not exactly…
Medicare is available to all individuals age 65 and older, in addition to chronically disabled individuals of any age, irrespective of resources (i.e., assets). It is federally administered and beneficiaries are often responsible for co-pays and premium payments. Medicare has four parts, each providing distinct benefits:
1. Part A (Hospital Insurance) – provides coverage for hospital costs and related
services (e.g., skilled nursing facility care, home health care, and hospice care).
2. Part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) – provides coverage for physician services
and certain outpatient services that are not covered by Part A.
3. Part C (now known as Medicare Advantage) – provides expanded coverage beyond
Parts A and B.
4. Part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit) – provides prescription drug coverage
through private insurance companies.
Medicaid, commonly referred to as Medical Assistance (MA), receives federal funding but is administered by the individual states. Unlike Medicare, Medicaid is a needs-based program, and beneficiaries are subject to strict financial eligibility requirements. Medicaid covers a broad range of health services, but is primarily known for providing long-term care (i.e., nursing home) coverage. Individuals may be eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, and receive benefits from both programs at the same time.
If you have any questions on this topic, please contact Attorney Emily E. Ames at eames@llattorneys.com or (920) 393-1190.
Disclaimer: The information in this blog post is provided for general informational purposes only, and is not intended as legal advice from Lin Law LLC or the individual author. Please consult an attorney licensed to practice law in your jurisdiction for information regarding your individual situation.