Long-Term Care Medicaid vs. Medical Medicaid: What is the Difference?

Long-term care Medicaid and Medical Medicaid (often referred to as regular Medicaid) are both government programs designed to provide health coverage for individuals with limited income and resources, but they serve different purposes:

1. Medical Medicaid: This program provides health coverage to low-income individuals, families, pregnant women, children, and people with disabilities. It covers a wide range of medical services, including doctor visits, hospital stays, prescription medications, preventive care, and some long-term care services such as skilled nursing care and home health services. Medical Medicaid is primarily focused on providing healthcare services to eligible individuals regardless of age, and it does not require the recipient to be in a nursing home or receive long-term care services.
2. Long-term care Medicaid: This program specifically covers the costs associated with long-term care services for individuals who require assistance with activities of daily living (such as bathing, dressing, eating, and mobility) due to age, disability, illness, or injury. Long-term care Medicaid helps pay for nursing home care, assisted living facility care, in-home care, and other long-term care services. Eligibility for long-term care Medicaid often requires individuals to meet certain medical and financial criteria, including having limited income and assets, as well as demonstrating a need for long-term care services.

In summary, while both Medical Medicaid and long-term care Medicaid provide healthcare coverage to low-income individuals, Medical Medicaid covers a broader range of medical services for people of all ages, while long-term care Medicaid specifically assists with the costs of long-term care services for those who need assistance with daily activities due to age, disability, illness, or injury.