The federal and state governments provide three types of insurance programs for the elderly, disabled and indigent. Additionally, two of these programs may apply to any children you have who have disabilities. When you apply for government-funded insurance, it may get quite confusing as to which of these programs you should apply and for which program you or your dependents qualify. If you find that you are quite confused about Medicare, Medicaid and Title XIX insurance programs, here is some information that will hopefully sort out your confusion.

Medicare Insurance

Medicare insurance is a federally-funded health insurance program for any adult who has a disability or any adult age 65 and up. If you apply for federal disability benefits for yourself, you will probably qualify for and receive Medicare benefits. If you apply for and receive disability benefits for your child who is a minor, then he or she actually qualifies for a different kind of government-sponsored medical insurance--Medicaid.

Medicaid Insurance 

Medicaid (which goes by a few other names in select states, but almost always ends with the suffix -aid)  is the state-funded health insurance that covers children and parents of indigent/low-income families, children (minors) with disabilities, and some adults who fall under individual state poverty guidelines. If you apply for disability benefits for your child, you often qualify for coverage as the caregiver. If you are impoverished or unemployed, you may apply for these insurance benefits through the Human Services building at the county or parish level. Single adults with no dependents may have to check with their state's requirements to see if they qualify. If you do not qualify for Medicare or Medicaid, you may qualify for Title XIX.

Title XIX Insurance

In some states, a third government-funded insurance program is available. This is called Title XIX, and usually covers impoverished adults who do not qualify for Medicare because they are not disabled or elderly and do no qualify for Medicaid because they have no dependents. It may also cover adults who are not assigned any particular providers for their healthcare needs, thereby allowing them to see whatever doctors they need to see or want to see without a referral from a general physician. If you do not meet the poverty guidelines or restrictions for this program, then you may have to find a way to purchase insurance via the National Health Insurance Exchange program, which could provide you with a voucher to reduce monthly costs.

For more information, contact Veltkamp Agency Inc or a similar organization.