Medicaid vs. Medicare

Many people confuse Medicaid and Medicare or think they are the same thing. Here are some of the differences:

MEDICAID	MEDICARE
Assistance program for low-income people.	Insurance program for people 65 or older and some disabled people younger than 65.
Based on income. Some programs require that you be responsible for part of your medical bills before you can get a Medicaid card. This is known as "meeting a deductible."	Most people receive Medicare because they receive some type of Social Security benefits.
A person who receives a Medicaid card pays no part of medical costs other than a small co-payment to the doctor or pharmacist.	You must pay a deductible for hospital visits. You must also pay an annual deductible for doctor visits and other medical services.
Medicaid will pay Medicare premiums for most people. It also pays Medicare deductibles and coinsurance for services that are covered by Medicare and Medicaid.	You pay coinsurance (a portion of the total bill) for medical services. You also pay a monthly premium for coverage of medical expenses.
Most Medicaid programs pay for prescription drugs, except for individuals with Medicare.	Medicare covers prescription drugs through private prescription drug plans.
Run by the state government, but has federal guidelines. Medicaid varies from state to state.	Run by the federal government and is the same everywhere in the U.S.
Money for Medicaid costs comes from federal, state and County funds.	Money for Medicare comes from federal funds.