| understood that the cost of medical services and | | | | is right for you. If you want to know how to |
| medications today are very high. To get sick | | | | apply for Medicaid, you may inquire at your health |
| means you will need to have a lot of expenses to | | | | center or clinic in your community. They will be |
| take care of. But what about those people who | | | | providing you with forms, and addresses of the |
| are in need of medical assistance, but they cannot | | | | nearest places in which you can apply for your |
| afford it? Is there still a possibility of them being | | | | Medicaid. Note that there are eligibility |
| able to get the help they need? The answer to | | | | requirements that need to be met, but generally, |
| that lies in Medicaid. As the term implies, this gives | | | | Medicaid is provided for low income families, and |
| aid to people who need medical attention but | | | | those who can’t afford health insurance. |
| cannot afford it themselves. | | | | When you have become approved for Medicaid, |
| Medicaid was established by the Social Security | | | | you will not be receiving cash to take care of |
| Act of 1965, a large part of President Lyndon B. | | | | your medical expenses. However, the |
| Johnson’s ‘Great Society’ | | | | government, whether it is the county or the |
| – also known as the War on Poverty. | | | | state, will be sending funds to medical facilities |
| Even though Medicaid is actually a federal | | | | which supports clients under Medicaid. You can find |
| government program, it is administered on a | | | | these in your county hospital, free health clinics, |
| state level. In fact, it is not even mandatory for | | | | and others. It is also said that some persons who |
| every state to participate, it’s voluntary. | | | | have been approved for Medicare also receive |
| But, all fifty states have opted into the Medicaid | | | | Medicaid, and there are not restrictions as to |
| program so they can capture their share of the | | | | being qualified for both. Some states may require |
| Medicaid pie for their constituents. | | | | a small fee for Medicaid clients, depending on the |
| A large number of members in the community | | | | medical services they availed of. |
| are unable to afford medical or health insurance. | | | | Medicaid was created based upon the premise |
| Medicaid is a program funded by the United | | | | that good health care should be available for |
| States government, which provides both social | | | | everyone, even (or especially for) the people who |
| welfare and medical assistance to low income | | | | can least afford to pay for it. A healthy society |
| families. There are eligibility requirements before a | | | | needs health people. Nobody is served by an |
| person can be provided medical services under | | | | unhealthy sub-class of people who cannot afford |
| Medicaid. Mostly, those who are eligible are those | | | | proper health care. It’s debatable whether |
| who are blind, pregnant, disabled, and are of old | | | | it has hit the mark, or if the country can afford |
| age. | | | | the program going forward, but for those it has |
| If you are looking for health assistance, and you | | | | helped, we all should be thankful. |
| think Medicaid is an option, you must assess if this | | | | |