How can Medicaid help people with low incomes?

Answer:

Medicaid is a joint Federal and State program that helps with medical costs for some people with low incomes and limited resources. To qualify for Medicaid, you must have a low income and few savings or other assets. Medicaid coverage differs from state to state. In all states, Medicaid pays for basic home health care and medical equipment. Medicaid may pay for homemaker, personal care, and other services that are not paid for by Medicare. Medicaid has programs that pay some or all of Medicare’s premiums and may also pay Medicare deductibles and coinsurance for certain people who are entitled to Medicare and have a low income.

For more information about what Medicaid covers for home health care in your state, call your State medical assistance office. To find contact information:

1. Please, go to the Helpful contacts section of the Medicare Web site,
2. Select State Medical Assistance Office in Step 1,
3. Select your State in Step 2,
4. Then click on the View Results button at the bottom.

The resulting page will contain the phone number for the State Medical Assistance Office in your State. You can also click on the Agency Name to visit that office's Web site.

Last Updated: 4/24/2008