Medicaid Dental Benefits

Medicaid- General Information

The term Medicaid which should not be mistaken for Medicare is a health-related program that provides low-cost and even free health services to millions of Americans living in the United States, U.S. territories and the DC (District of Columbia).

It is a collaborative effort between both the federal and state government which was created on July 30, 1965, by President Lyndon B. Johnson; through the Social Security Act. Through the Medicaid program, certain groups of American citizens such as people with disabilities, pregnant women, low-income earners, and the aged are provided medical services at almost no cost.

Being a joint venture by both the federal government and state government, there are laid out standards by the federal government, but states have the rights to expand or add to these standards. This, therefore, makes the coverage of the Medicaid program differ from state to state. Medicaid is also sometimes referred to as Medical Assistance or Medi-cal.

Medicaid eligibility

It is essential to know that Medicaid’s eligibility varies from state to state due to the powers given to individual states to expand prescribed federal standards, and to include additional provisions as they deem fit.

This expansion by many states has afforded more people to become eligible for Medicaid based on certain factors such as disability, household income, family size, and many more.

Mandatory Qualification criteria

Although individual states administer and are in charge of Medicaid in their state, there are a few mandatory requirements to be met before one becomes eligible for Medicaid. These requirements are:

  • An individual must be a resident of the state he or she chooses to apply for Medicaid
  • An individual must be a citizen of the USA or meet immigration or residency requirements
  • An individual must meet the financial requirements as a low-income earner
  • An individual must fall into any of the Medicaid coverage categories such as low income earner, pregnant women, disabled, etc

What services does Medicaid cover?

Some states are known to have expanded their Medicaid coverage to services such as dental care, physical rehabilitation, giving of prosthetics, eye care.

Some other services provided by Medicaid are:

  • Laboratory services
  • Family planning
  • Care for individuals from 21 years and above
  • Transportation services due to medical reasons

Benefits of Medicaid

Some of the benefits of Medicaid are:

  1. Decline in infant and child mortality
  2. Reduced teen mortality
  3. Reduced disability
  4. Decline in the rate of hospitalization

Who pays for Medicaid?

Under the Medicaid program, payments are made directly to the health service providers and not the individuals who benefit from the program.

How to apply for Medicaid

Application for Medicaid can be done online at www.medicare.gov or check with the Medicaid agency in your state of residence.

 

More information:

Medicaid Website https://www.medicaid.gov

Find Your State Contact Information https://www.medicaid.gov/about-us/contact-us/contact-state-page.html

Dental Care Benefits with Medicaid: https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/dental/index.html