Medicaid facts
Did you know?
When it comes to Medicaid, there is a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding out there. Medicaid provides health insurance coverage to people who may be experiencing low incomes, people with disabilities, and people who are older. Here are some facts about Medicaid.
Nearly 67 percent of children under the age of five and covered by Medicaid get a yearly well-child appointment.
Well-child visits are important for the overall health of a child. In addition to providing recommended immunizations to prevent illness, these appointments assess a child’s development. This includes tracking growth, developmental milestones, social behaviors and more.
Kids covered by Medicaid get the care they need and also experience long-term health and economic gains as adults, including better health status, higher educational attainment and higher earnings.
48% of children enrolled in Medicaid had a preventive dental exam in the last year.
Early and routine checkups help prevent cavities and tooth decay which can lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing and even learning.
Medicaid covers 43% of births in the United States.
Pregnant women in the United States continue to experience adverse maternal and birth outcomes. In fact, the rate of preterm births continues to rise and has now reached one in every ten. Low birthweight is also on the rise. Infants born preterm or low birthweight are at an increased risk for experiencing physical disabilities and developmental impairments throughout their lives.
The average cost of medical care for a baby born without complications is $4,550 in the first year.
The average cost of medical care for a premature or low birthweight baby is $49,000 in the first year.
Medicaid supports healthy pregnancies, offering health care and support before, during and after pregnancy for better outcomes.
Source: America’s Health Rankings, 2018 Report
Of able-bodied adults who are covered by Medicaid expansion, 62% are already working or in school & 12% are looking for work.
Access to health insurance, including Medicaid, directly contributed to cutting poverty by almost one quarter.
The majority of people receiving Medicaid are enrolled in the program for less than 2 years.
Source: Health Affairs, “Estimating the Effect of Health Insurance and Other Social Programs on Poverty Under the Affordable Care Act.”
Polling suggests that Medicaid has broad support across political parties.
What is the difference between Medicaid and Medicare?
Benefit
Medicaid
Medicare
Dually Eligible
Provides health insurance to low-income children
Yes
No
No
Provides health insurance to low-income parents
Situational
No
No
Provides health insurance to seniors aged 65 and older
Yes
Yes
Yes
Provides health insurance to individuals with disabilities
Yes
Situational
Yes
Provides medical care coverage
Yes
Yes
Yes
through Medicare
Provides long-term care coverage
Yes
Limited
Yes
through Medicaid
Has income-based eligibility
Yes
with categorical criteria
No
no income limit
Yes
state-set standard
Receives state funding
Yes
No
Yes
Receives federal funding
Yes
Yes
from payroll deduction
Yes
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