Healthcare in the US is infamously expensive, and the majority of low-income Americans can’t even afford to be taken into a hospital, let alone some more serious treatments to be performed on them.
While the doctors are under Hypocrate’s oath, they’ll do everything in their power to keep you alive, but this also means that your wallet will be in real trouble later.
Thankfully, the federal government is all too aware of this issue, and they’ve long since created Medicaid to help them tackle this problem, and it’s been successful in helping needy Americans pay for their healthcare-related expenses.
Of course, the program is limited, and you’ll have to meet a set of very specific criteria if you wish to benefit from Medicaid.
Keep reading and find out some of the more important things about this government program and how you can also gain benefits through it.
What is Medicaid?
The US has a wide variety of healthcare assistance programs, none of which are as effective or as known as Medicaid.
The program is so big that it can cover the needs of 1 in 5 Americans, and this also applies to those with extremely costly needs or complex procedures they’re scheduled for.
Medicaid covers a number of different services, and qualifying Americans can receive assistance with ease, so long as they meet some or all of the program’s requirements.
On top of being as big as it is, Medicaid is also known for its donations to healthcare in the US, which encompasses donations to hospitals, community help centers, nursing homes, and even helping people find jobs in the healthcare sector.
The program is implemented by the Dept. of Human Health and Human Services, with the Centers for Medicare Services in charge of running the operation.
Evolution
Ever since it was first introduced back in 1965, Medicaid benefits were given out as cash assistance to needy families, which slowly turned into SSI benefits around 7 years later.
The coverage would usually be given at or above income levels, allowing the family to cover some of their costs and work towards a future where they’re not going to be in need of assistance to stay afloat.
In 1996, Medicaid eligibility and welfare were separated from one another, allowing the program to enact the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which improved the match rate on a federal level by a margin.
In line with the changes that’d been made at the time, states in the US conducted a series of ad campaigns and simplified enrollment applications to allow younger children to apply for benefits as soon as possible.
In 2010, benefits from the program were expanded to nonelderly adults with an income below a certain level.
Medicaid cares more than you’d think
A series of researches conducted on the organization found that patients who’ve been part of the program have had much better access to care compared to those who didn’t.
This makes sense if you consider the program’s rates put them on par with some private healthcare programs, and the effectiveness of the program has been shown with results.
In just a few years ever since the program allowed pregnant women to receive Medicaid coverage, infant and child mortality rates have dropped tremendously, leaving everyone baffled by the incredible results.
Further research found that state expansions to the program are usually linked with increased and improved access to care, an improved self-image, and overall lower mortality rates for adults.
No matter how you look at it, Medicaid is definitely pulling its weight, and the American people should be thankful.
What does it focus on
Even though children deserve care as much as anyone else, Medicaid prioritizes elderly citizens and those with disabilities, and this is reflected in the expenses the program has when it comes to enrollment costs and the care some of these patients may need.
If you look at it coverage-wise, you could easily say that Medicaid is akin to some private insurance company, with the only real difference being that Medicaid is much less costly if you compare the two.
With this in mind, you can easily calculate that an average adult with job-based coverage will be facing much greater healthcare costs than a person enrolled in Medicaid, and it’s been made possible by the fact that Medicaid is still growing so much slower compared to other benchmarks.
Final word
Healthcare is expensive, but it doesn’t have to be, so long as you’re willing to do the right thing and apply for Medicaid benefits.
Doing this will ensure that you gain a number of different assistance options at your disposal, and then you’ll have a much easier time picking the one that truly fits your circumstances.
Do yourself and your loved ones a favor, enroll in this healthcare program, and set yourself up for the future.