Medicaid vs Medicare
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% of children under the age of five 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. From 2021 to 2023, 45.3% of children and adolescents ages 3 to 21 had at least one comprehensive well-child visit in each state.1
Improved Outcomes
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.1
Dental Care
Early and routine checkups help prevent cavities and tooth decay which can lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing and even learning.2 41% of children covered by Medicaid/CHIP received preventive dental care in 2021.3
Sources
Medicaid covers 41% of births in the United States.1
Medicaid expansion has been linked to decreases in maternal and infant mortality, with the greatest benefits for those at highest risk. Some studies have linked expansion to improved birth outcomes, such as decreases in preterm or low-birthweight births and decreased postpartum hospitalizations.2
Of Medicaid members without disabilities:
- 64% are working
- 29% are not working due to caregiving, illness or disability, or school
- 8% are not working due to retirement, seeking employment, or other reasons.1
Access to health insurance, including Medicaid, reduces the health inclusive poverty measure by 3.8%; and children by 5.3%.2
Non-disabled, non-elderly adults are enrolled in Medicaid for an average of 9.8 months.3
Sources
- Tolbert, Jennifer et al. "Understanding the Intersection of Medicaid & Work: An Update." KFF, 30, May 2025.
- Wagnerman, Karina. "Research Update: Medicaid Pulls Americans Out of Poverty, Updated Edition." Center for Children and Families, Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy, 8 March, 2018.
- Ku L, Platt I. "Duration and Continuity of Medicaid Enrollment Before the COVID-19 Pandemic." JAMA Health Forum. 16, Dec. 2022.
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 older adults age 65+
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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