Medicare

Medicaid

Who is Eligible?

Medicare covers:

1. People ages 65 or older.
2. Some people under 65 with disabilities
3. People with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), which is permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Medicaid covers people with low income and resources. Some people on Medicare are also eligible for Medicaid.

Who Administers the Program

Medicare is a federal program. The rules and regulations for Medicare will be the same in every state.

Both federal and state governments jointly fund Medicaid. Therefore, the rules that govern the Medicaid program are different in all 50 states.

Coverage Provided

Part A of Medicare provides basic coverage for hospital visits, post-hospital nursing facilities, and home health care.

Part B of Medicare pays for most basic doctor and laboratory costs, some outpatient medical services, medical equipment and supplies, home health care, and physical therapy.

In many states, Medicaid covers services and costs that Medicare does not cover, including prescription drugs, diagnostic and preventive care, and eyeglasses.

Costs to Consumer

Consumers pay a yearly deductible for both Medicare Part A and Part B. Reasonably large co-payments are also required for extended hospital stays.

Medicaid can be used to pay for Medicare deductibles and the 20 percent portion of charges not paid by Medicare. You can also use Medicaid to pay the Medicare premium.

In some states, Medicaid charges consumers small amounts for certain services.