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
How many people have Medicaid in 2019?
As of 2019, over 75 million Americans were estimated to be enrolled in the Medicaid program, a significant increase from around 50 million ten years ago.
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)
Who is eligible for Medicaid?
Medicaid covers some low-income individuals, families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities in all states, and all low-income adults below a certain income level in some states.
Who pays for Medicaid?
The federal government and states jointly fund the Medicaid program, with the federal government paying states a set percentage of program costs known as the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP).
Who uses Medicaid the most?
9. Medicaid spending is concentrated on the elderly and disabled. Seniors and disabled people account for nearly two-thirds of Medicaid spending, reflecting high per-enrollee costs for both acute and long-term care (Figure 9).
Is Medicare and Medicaid the same thing?
Medicare is a federal program that helps people who are 65 or older or have a qualifying disability or medical condition pay for health care. Medicaid is a state government program that helps people with limited income and resources pay for health care, and there are different programs for different populations.
Which states do not offer Medicaid?
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming are among the 12 states that have not expanded Medicaid.
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.
Can Medicaid be transferred from state to state?
Medicaid State Transfer Rules Overview. Much to the surprise and dismay of many, Medicaid coverage and benefits cannot simply be transferred from one state to another; as a result, in order to be accepted by Medicaid in a new state, an individual must first close out their Medicaid coverage in the previous state.