Where Do They Come From?
Medicare and Medicaid are both government-sponsored programs and taxpayer-funded. The difference, however, comes from the level of government providing it.
Medicare is a federal program. Since it’s federal, it has uniform eligibility criteria. If you qualify for Medicare in one state, you can get it in any other.
Medicaid is a joint federal and state program. Every state has slight requirement differences. It is possible to be eligible for Medicaid in one state, but not another.
What Are The Eligibility Standards?
Medicare is available to those who are 65 or older. If you are not yet 65, you can still get Medicare if you have been receiving disability benefits from Social Security for 24 months or more.
Medicaid eligibility is income-focused. You must earn at or below a certain amount based on your state’s requirements for Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI). Some states allow you to navigate this if your earnings are too high, yet you are considered medically needy. If you’re medically needy, you can deduct your medical costs from your income in order to meet your state’s MAGI requirement.