Chapter 10: A description of Medicaid eligibility

The purpose of the Medicaid program is to provide medical care for specific groups of low-income individuals: those who are aged, blind, or disabled, members of families with children, and pregnant women. Medicaid is the largest program providing medical and other health-related services to the US' poor people. In 1991, Medicaid accounted for $90.5 billion in federal and state payments for medical services rendered to over 28 million users. However, Medicaid was not designed to provide health insurance to all poor Americans. Originally, individuals became eligible for Medicaid because of their categorical relationship to 2 federal cash assistance programs: Aid to Families with Dependent Children and Supplementary Security Income. In the late 1990s, individuals in additional selected low-income groups became eligible for Medicaid solely on the relationship of their incomes to the federal poverty level. Data is presented to help provide a better understanding of the basic eligibility provisions of Medicaid.