What Does Medicaid Cover ?
Medicaid is one of the largest combined federal-state long term health care program for people with low income and minimum resources.
The services covered under this program are defined by each state based on broad federal guidelines. There is a lot of variation among state Medicaid programs regarding not only which services are covered, but also the duration and scope of the services.Federal guideline states that each state must cover certain essential services under Medicaid program. In addition of these essential services, the states have discretion to cover additional services known as optional services. State may chose among a total of 33 optional services to include in their Medicaid program.
In general, the following Medicaid benefits are provided in almost all the US states:
- Inpatient hospital care
- Outpatient hospital care
- Medical practitioner services
- Medical and surgical dental services
- Nursing home services
- Family planning
- Laboratory and X-ray services
- Rural health care services
- Transportation to health care center
- Emergency ambulance transportation to hospital.
- Treatment in mental hospital (for person under 21 and those above 65), mental health facilities, and facilities and facilities for the mentally retarded or the developmentally disabled.
- Emergency ambulance transportation to hospital.
In some states the following additional services are covered under Medicaid program:
- Prescription medications
- Eye exams and glasses
- Hearing aids
- Dental services and dentures
- Prosthetics services
Since each state’s Medicaid guidelines vary, one should check with their local Medicaid office to find out about the rules and eligibility criteria applicable in that state.
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What Does Medicaid Cover
