Majority of People Covered by Medicaid and Similar Programs Are Children, Older Adults, or Disabled
Medicaid and CHIP participants are among the most vulnerable members of the US population, accounting for nearly half of all people covered by means-tested public health insurance. Medicaid and CHIP participants are among the most vulnerable members of the US population.
Table: The Majority of Publicly Insured Individuals Are Children, Older Adults, or Disabled.
The American Community Survey, conducted by the United States Census Bureau, examines Americans aged 19 to 64, as well as those aged 65 and older, in mutually exclusive categories. Full-time, year-round work includes those who work 35 hours or more per week for 50 weeks or more per year.
Using the ACS to Study Medicaid Recipients
Medicaid is grouped with CHIP and other low-income means-tested programs, and states may use the same name for multiple types of health insurance, further complicating things.
Conducting Research With Medicaid Data
Although survey data tends to underestimate participation in social programs, historical data may not be available, and national surveys may not accurately measure participation in state-specific programs, we used data from the ACS for this analysis.
Other Sources of Data on Medicaid Enrollment
The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) estimates coverage status and length of coverage at the time of interview. States must be combined to produce reliable annual estimates of state-level coverage. Aggregate enrolled data is available quarterly and can be linked to claims data, but it lacks demographic detail.
Additional Resources
Why Does the Medicaid Debate Matter? National Data and Voices of People With Medicaid Highlight Medicaid’s Role, accessed on June 26, 2017, by the Census Bureau and the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Means-tested health insurance programs are available to people based on their income, age, or other qualifying condition.
What percentage of US adults are on Medicaid?
The percentage of Americans covered by the Medicaid public health insurance plan increased slightly from 2019 to around 17.8% in 2020, but it remains below the peak of 19.6% in 2015. 6
What percentage of the population is on Medicare and Medicaid?
Employer-based insurance was the most common type of health insurance coverage, covering 56.0 percent of the population for some or all of the calendar year, followed by Medicaid (19.3%), Medicare (17.2%), direct-purchase coverage (16.0%), and military coverage (4.8%).
How many elderly are on Medicare?
Medicare covers 55 million Americans, or roughly 17% of the population, and its beneficiaries are the country’s oldest, sickest, and most disabled citizens, with three-quarters having one or more chronic conditions and one-quarter rating their health as fair or poor.
Can the elderly be on Medicaid?
Medicaid and Medicare: The Basics Medicaid can help low-income seniors with out-of-pocket medical expenses, as well as Medicare premiums, co-payments, and deductibles in some cases. Medicare is a health-care insurance program open to all seniors aged 65 and up.
What ethnicity uses Medicaid the most?
81.1% of Asian Americans, 57.0% of Latinos, and 55.1% of people of mixed races met the new Medicaid eligibility criteria, compared to 47.3% of Whites, 40.0% of African Americans, and 30.0% of Native Americans.
What state has the highest Medicaid?
The ten states with the highest Medicaid enrollment are as follows:
- Pennsylvania (2,980,867)
- Indiana (2,787,617)
- Ohio (2,687,107)
- Michigan (2,476,774)
- California (10,860,126)
- New York (5,863,440)
- Texas (4,034,937)
- Georgia (3,805,520)
- Pennsylvania (2,980,867)
How many US citizens are on Medicaid?
According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), over 75 million people were enrolled in Medicaid in 2019. Children make up 40% of the total, while adults, the disabled, and the elderly make up the rest of the population.
What age range was the largest recipient of Medicare services?
Technical Notes: Counts include all Medicare beneficiaries who were enrolled in Medicare on or after January 1 of the year. Description: The population aged 65-74 years comprises the largest age grouping for beneficiaries (49% of all beneficiaries).
What is Medicaid funded by?
Medicaid accounts for $1 out of every $6 spent on health care in the United States, and it is the primary source of funding for states to provide health and long-term care coverage to low-income residents. Medicaid is administered by states under broad federal rules, and states and the federal government jointly fund it.
Do all seniors use Medicare?
Almost every American over the age of 65 is eligible for Medicare, and nearly all of them are eligible for free Medicare Part A (hospital insurance).
What percentage of elderly rely on Medicare?
When most Americans reach the age of 65, they are automatically enrolled in the Medicare program, which currently covers nearly 96 percent of the country’s elderly.
Is Medicare free at 65?
If you’re 65 or older, you’re probably eligible for free Medicare hospital insurance (Part A) if you’ve worked and paid Medicare taxes long enough; otherwise, you’ll have to pay a monthly premium for Medicare medical insurance (Part B). For more information, see Medicare Premiums: Rules For Higher-Income Beneficiaries.
Who is not eligible for Medicaid?
Adults over 21 are generally ineligible for Medicaid in the 15 states that have not implemented the ACA Medicaid expansion (as of April 2020), regardless of their income, unless they are pregnant, caring for children, the elderly, or have a disability.
What does Medicaid cover long term?
Medicaid, the nation’s largest public payer of long-term care services, covers not only routine and emergency medical care, such as doctor visits and hospital bills, but also long-term care in nursing homes, including custodial care, for all eligible people aged 21 and up.