Medicaid — Title XIX

Medicaid is health coverage for people who meet certain rules.

For many people, the main rule is income. For others, the rules may depend on age, disability, pregnancy, family size, or whether they receive another benefit like SSI.

Medicaid is not the same as Medicare. Medicare is mostly based on age or certain disabilities. Medicaid is usually based on financial need and state rules.

Because states run their own Medicaid programs, one person may qualify in one state but not in another. Your state decides many details, including covered services, income limits, and renewal rules.

**Who may qualify for Medicaid?** You may qualify if you are a child, a pregnant person, a parent or caregiver, an adult with low income, a senior, a person with a disability, a person who receives SSI, or a person who needs long-term care. Eligibility rules vary by state. The safest next step is to check with your state Medicaid office or use an official benefits finder at Medicaid.gov.

**What Medicaid may cover** Medicaid may help pay for doctor visits, hospital care, lab tests and X-rays, home health services, prescription medicine, long-term care, nursing home care, preventive care, mental health care, and in some cases transportation to care. Some benefits are required by federal law. Other benefits are optional, so states may handle them differently.

**Medicaid vs Medicare** Medicaid is often based on income or need; Medicare is often based on age 65+ or certain disabilities. Medicaid is run by states with federal rules; Medicare is run by the federal government. Medicaid may cover long-term care; Medicare does not cover most long-term care. Some people have both — this is sometimes called "dual eligible." See our Medicare Enrollment Guide and Government Benefits Guide for related programs.

**How to apply for Medicaid** You can usually apply through your state Medicaid website, or through HealthCare.gov and get routed to the right program. Before you apply, gather Social Security numbers, income information, tax or pay records, household information, immigration or citizenship documents if needed, and any current health insurance information.