The Differences Between Medicare and Medicaid
Understanding the differences between Medicare and Medicaid is essential in planning for retirement and wealth transfer planning. While often used in tandem, Medicare and Medicaid are two separate and distinct programs that affect millions of Americans. Without knowing the differences, you may be cutting off an important resource for care when you need it.
Medicare is an insurance program for Americans over the age of 65 or with certain disabilities. Individuals become eligible for Medicare from their time in the workforce. Because Medicare is an insurance program, benefits come with copays and deductibles. There are four Medicare parts. Medicare Part A involves inpatient care, short-term nursing home facilities, hospice, and some in-home services. Medicare Part B covers traditional medical expenses for outpatient treatment. Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, is private insurance that provides benefits as an alternative to Part A and B. Finally, Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage.
Medicaid, on the other hand, is not an insurance program, but rather a need-based welfare program. Medicaid covers individuals over the age of 65, the blind, and the disabled. Medicaid services covers long-term care including nursing home facilities and in-home care. Since Medicaid is need-based, eligibility is tied to income, age, and disability. Medicaid programs are administered by each state and each state has different eligibility guidelines. Each state is reimbursed in part by the federal government for these services as there are no co-pays or deductibles to pay for its recipients.
While their names may be similar, Medicare and Medicaid share little in common other than their administration as government programs. Because of this, each program should be taken into consideration when developing your family wealth plan. You may not qualify for Medicaid coverage and your employer’s benefits may be wider than Medicare, but knowing what triggers each program is important in order to protect generational wealth.