Is it Medicare or Medicaid?
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: July 16, 2021
A lot of people have a difficult time understanding the difference between Medicare and Medicaid. Both programs begin with the letter “M.” They’re both health insurance programs run by the government. People often ask questions about what Medicare and Medicaid are, what services they cover, and who administers the programs.
Let’s start with Medicare. Medicare is the earned-benefit program for Americans aged 65 or older or disabled. Workers pay into Medicare throughout their working years. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is the agency in charge of both Medicare and Medicaid, but you sign up for Medicare A (Hospital) and Medicare B (Medical) through Social Security.
You can apply for Medicare online from the convenience of your home on our Medicare Benefits page. If you’re already receiving Social Security retirement benefits when you reach age 65 or are in the 25th month of receiving disability checks, we will enroll you automatically.
Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) and Part D (Prescription Drug) plans are available for purchase in the insurance marketplace. Social Security administers a program called Extra Help to help people with low income and low resources pay for premiums, co-pays, and co-insurance costs for Part D plans. You can find out more about Extra Help and file for it on our Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs page. Each year, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services publishes Medicare and You available online at their website. This publication is a user’s manual for Medicare.
Each state runs its own Medicaid program under guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medicaid offers care for the most vulnerable among us. While it does not require paying taxes while working, it does have guidelines about how much income and resources you can have to qualify. Medicaid provides coverage for older people, people with disabilities, and some families with children. Each state has its own eligibility rules and decides which services to cover. The names of the Medicaid program may vary from state to state. You can read about each state’s Medicaid program on their State Overviews page. You can find each state’s Medicaid contact information on the Contact Your State With Questions page.
Medicare and Medicaid are two of the major insurance programs that provide healthcare to the American public. Understanding each program, as well as how the two programs differ, can help you and those you care about find the right healthcare program.
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Tags: Disability, Medicaid, Medicare
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Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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James G.
At age 63 I filed for disability from my job and received 66and2/3 of my yearly salary but I was forced to file for social security disability and would have that amount subtracted from my pay whether I received it or not.While I was disabled until age 65 I had Part A as my job carried under full coverage for 2 years and I filed the 2 forms SS Admin told me,now instead of 109$ I will pay 134$ deducted from my social security,why should or must I have to file another appeal?
R.F.
For assistance, call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thanks.
Rebecca G.
When I signed up for Social Security the agent said I didn’t need part B because I had coverage with my job.
When I retire is that when I apply for part B?
R.F.
Thank you for your question, Rebecca. If you are still working and covered under a group health plan based on that employment, you may not need to file for Medicare part B until you stop working or drop your health care coverage. You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP), which would allow you to sign up for Medicare Part B, if you are now past your Initial Enrollment Period. Usually, you don’t pay a late enrollment penalty if you sign up during a SEP. To learn more about the Medicare enrollment periods and how to enroll, visit http://www.Medicare.gov. We hope this information helps!
gm w.
I just started receiving Medicare benefits this year. Do I have to renew my Medicare in January? Will a notice be mailed out to me if I need to renew?
R.F.
Thanks for your question. You do not need to renew your Medicare benefits every year.
Michael M.
While living and retired outside the US, what benefits can I access with Medicare and/or Medicaid?
Brian R.
Micheal,
I had an accident that has paralysed me while visiting family in UK. I am still here after 3 years and wanting to return. What are the hurdles?
I have not made a claim despite paying into US Medicare and Medicaid.
Was your claim successful.?
I look forward to anyone who can help.
Rupert
R.F.
We are sorry to hear of your situation, Brian. We recommend that individuals living outside the United States contact the nearest Federal Benefits Unit or U.S. Embassy in the area, for any assistance related to Social Security programs and benefits. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad.
We hope this information helps!
P. H.
Please identify Medicare premiums for 2018.
LaFlor
As of today’s date 11/21/2017, Medicare has not notified the public of the 2018 Premiums rates. Visit t their website at https://www.Medicare.gov/ for more information.
R.F.
Information about Medicare changes for 2018, when announced, will be available at http://www.medicare.gov.
Hospitals &.
Hospitals & Asylums http://www.title24uscode.org/ha.pdf
The entire 10 chapters of Hospitals & Asylums (HA) have been republished to supplement the Armed Forces Retirement Home §400-435. The Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) houses approximately 1,600 veterans at the U.S. Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home (USSAH in Washington D.C. and the U.S. Naval Home (USNH) in Gulfport, Mississippi. At an average age of 76, the largest percentage of residents, 80% are WWII veterans, 30% in Korea and 10% in Vietnam. The average length of stay is 10.6 years.
The Naval Home was established in the Naval Hospitals Act of Feb. 26, 1811 by Paul Hamilton of South Carolina, secretary of the Navy, under President James Madison. As early as 1799, contributions of 20 cents per month were taken from every active duty member for the relief of seamen in the service. Paul Hamilton of South Carolina, secretary of the Navy under President James Madison legislated the Naval Hospital Act of Feb. 26, 1811 to provide for Naval Hospitals and the Naval Asylum. Distracted by the War of 1812 the Naval Asylum was not established until 1834, after the citizen’s arrest, detention, trial by jury, lengthy appeal due to severe illness in re: US v. Thomas Fillebrown, Secretary of Commissioners of Navy Hospitals 32 US 28 7 Pet. 28 (1833).
Codification R.S. §4801 et seq. was derived from the act of Feb. 26, 1811. Abraham Lincoln wrote the Emancipation Proclamation at what is now called the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington D.C. President Lincoln is also attributed with founding Freedmen’s Hospital, and the Columbia Institution for the Deaf and Dumb. Legislation of the Soldier’s and Airmen’s Home is first attributed to R.S. §4815; Mar. 3, 1883, ch. 130, §10, 22 Stat. 565. R.S. §4825, related to organization of National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. R.S. §4838; related to the legislation of Saint Elizabeths Hospital on July 1, 1916. R.S. §2038; related to the legislation of Freedmen’s Hospital act June 23, 1874. R.S. §4877 relating to National Cemeteries acts July 24, 1876. Gorgas Hospital is dated Mar. 24, 1928, ch. 240, §1, 45 Stat. 365. Hospitalization of Mentally Ill Nationals was legislated by Pub. L. 86–571, §1, July 5, 1960. The Armed Forces Retirment Home was legislated by Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title XV, §1502, Nov. 5, 1990.
Hospitals & Asylums has been amended many times, most recently so that section 302904 of title 54 was substituted for section 101(e)(3) of the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470a(e)(3)) on authority of Pub. L. 113–287, §6(e), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3272, which Act enacted Title 54, National Park Service and Related Programs.
Hospitals &.
SSA OK for a single mom under the Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons of 1954 and Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness of 1961. Avoid hyper-inflationary Medicare bills and premiums, stay healthy or have bills paid by Medicaid. Social security beneficiaries have a individual and collective duty to abolish Medicare extortion by going to local office and requesting that their Medicare policy be terminated.
To legalize marijuana worldwide. To reverse the 1,000% increase in fatal opiate overdose respiratory depression since 2001 with Narcan injections, naloxone pills and prevent opiates from being adulterated with fentanyl and cofentanyl under Sec. 301 of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act under 21USC§331.
To exempt corticosteroid inhalers from the Ozone export ban under the Montreal Protocol. To ensure Americans have access to chemically tested generic prescription drugs without prescription online and by vending machines in hospitals and by licensed blind persons on Federal property by the Randolph-Sheppard Vending Stand Act (Pub. L. 74-732) under 34CFR§395.30 et seq. and 20USC§107 et seq. in particular those that are uniquely curative.
Amantadine for influenza A and the extra-pyramidal side-effects of antipsychotic drugs and corticosteroid inhalers for asthma; and those that are specially indicated for antibiotic resistance: ampicillin for pneumonia and meningitis, doxycycline, the once a day antibiotic, for bubonic plague, Lyme disease and hospital acquired methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and metronidazole, pre-surgery for gastroenteritis and joints.
William R.
Can an undocumented parent serve as SSI payee for citizen minor?
R.F.
Anybody interested in becoming a beneficiary’s representative payee will need to contact their local office for a face-to-face interview. Our representatives in the field office will be able to provide answers to your specific questions. To make an appointment, please call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thanks.
Dawn B.
I enrolled on an Aetna advantage program under Medicare this week
Broker told me 2 ask about Q & A and L.I S
Daniel A.
How about some information concerning persons that have been on Social Security/Medicare for several years. For instance, COLA information and the premium cost for Part B for the upcoming new year.After all we are only 41 days(+/-) from the new year of 2018. Some of us are not new to SS/MediCare, but just want to be kept in the updated loop. Thank you & Happy Thanksgiving!!
R.F.
Happy Thanksgiving to you as well, Daniel. Information about Medicare changes for 2018, when announced, will be available at http://www.medicare.gov.