Medicaid is a federal and state program that provides health care coverage to low-income people, generally children, pregnant women, parents, the disabled and elderly. Many disabled people receive Medicaid through the Social Security Administration Supplemental Security Income (SSI), welfare based program. Medicaid is administered by each individual state and the federal government sets minimum eligibility standards and provides a portion of the funding. Medicaid, known in Minnesota as Medical Assistance, is one of the biggest items in the state budget, with state outlays last year of roughly $4 billion to cover more than 700,000 people. It provides medical insurance for the poor, elderly and disabled. Medicaid information is available at your local county social services, welfare, or department of human services office. Medicaid provides inpatient and outpatient health care coverage, including many services and costs Medicare does not cover, such as prescription drugs, diagnostic and preventive care, and eyeglasses. The amount of coverage varies from state to state. In 2011, Minnesota opted for an early Medicaid expansion that provided health coverage to about 84,000 residents, most of them low-income or disabled.
If you have been or currently receive Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB), Disabled Widows or Widowers Benefits or Disabled Adult Child Benefits for 24 months, you qualify for Medicare. Medicare can be at times a more comprehensive medical plan, however coverage does not begin until after a person has been on disability benefits for two years and sometimes the medical coverage may not pay for all medications. Medicare covers almost everyone 65 or older, people on Social Security disability (DIB), and some individuals with permanent kidney failure. Medicare hospital insurance (Part A) provides basic coverage for hospital stays and post-hospital nursing facility and home health care. Medicare medical insurance (Part B) pays most basic doctor and laboratory costs, and some outpatient medical services, including medical equipment and supplies, home health care, and physical therapy. Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) pays some of the costs of prescription medications.
