What is Medicare ? What is Medicaid and medicare and medicaid difference & Medicare and Medicaid Eligibility

Who is eligible for Medicare?

Generally, Medicare is available for people age 65 or older, younger people with disabilities and people with End Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplant). Medicare has two parts, Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medicare Insurance). You are eligible for premium-free Part A if you are age 65 or older and you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. You can get Part A at age 65 without having to pay premiums if:

• You are receiving retirement benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.
• You are eligible to receive Social Security or Railroad benefits but you have not yet filed for them.
• You or your spouse had Medicare-covered government employment.

Who is eligible for Medicaid?

You may qualify for free or low-cost care through Medicaid based on income and family size.

In all states, Medicaid provides health coverage for some low-income people, families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. In some states the program covers all low-income adults below a certain income level.

Medicare :

Medicare is an insurance program. Medical bills are paid from trust funds which those covered have paid into.

It serves people over 65 primarily, whatever their income; and serves younger disabled people and dialysis patients.

Patients pay part of costs through deductibles for hospital and other costs.

Small monthly premiums are required for non-hospital coverage.

Medicare is a federal program.

Medicare is basically the same everywhere in the United States and is run by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, an agency of the federal government.

Medicaid :

Medicaid is an state assistance program.

It serves low-income people of every age. Patients usually pay no part of costs for covered medical expenses.

A small co-payment is sometimes required. Medicaid is a federal-state program.

It varies from state to state.

It is run by state and local governments within federal guidelines. To see if you qualify for your state's Medicaid (or Children's Health Insurance) program