What is Medicaid?

Each state operates a Medicaid program that provides health coverage for lower-income people, families and children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

Section 1331 of the Affordable Care Act gives states the option of creating a Basic Health Program (BHP), a health benefits coverage program for low-income residents who would otherwise be eligible to purchase coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. The Basic Health Program gives states the ability to provide more affordable coverage for these low-income residents and improve continuity of care for people whose income fluctuates above and below Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) levels.

Through the Basic Health Program, states can provide coverage to individuals who are citizens or lawfully present non-citizens, who do not qualify for Medicaid, CHIP, or other minimum essential coverage and have income between 133 percent and 200 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL). People who are lawfully present non-citizens who have income that does not exceed 133 percent of FPL but who are unable to qualify for Medicaid due to such non-citizen status, are also eligible to enroll. read more

The eligibility rules for Medicaid are different for each state, but most states offer coverage for adults with children at some income level. In addition, beginning in 2014, most adults under age 65 with individual incomes up to about $15,000 per year will qualify for Medicaid in every state.




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