Medicaid helps pay for health care for people who fit within certain categories (such as being a child or elderly or disabled or pregnant) and whose income and assets fall within certain limits (which vary depending on which category a person fits within). Idaho's Medicaid program covers many items and services, including the full range of long-term care. 

Individuals who also qualify for Medicare coverage are able to use their Medicaid to pay for Medicare premiums, deductibles, and co-payments.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare has created a Medicaid Protection FAQs page on their website to explain Medicaid dis-enrollments and how you can protect your access to Medicaid benefits. For more information on how to protect your Medicaid access, please see their Frequently Asked Questions page here: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/medicaidprotection.

The Idaho Department of Health & Welfare has Medicaid programs available that provide health coverage for:

• Children under 19 years of age
• Parents or other related adults with children under 19
• Pregnant women
• Women diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer or pre-cancer
• People aged 65 or older
• People who are blind or disabled (using Social Security criteria)

Visit this link for more information.

Medicare is a multi-part federal health insurance program managed by the federal government. A person applies for Medicare through the Social Security Administration, but Medicare's rules are written by another federal agency, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), and Medicare claims are processed by private insurance companies, called "Fiscal Intermediaries" and "Medicare Carriers," that vary from state to state. 

People who have Medicare coverage may also qualify for Medicaid. When they do, Medicaid pays for their Medicare premiums, deductibles, and co-payments - as well as for many health care items, such as dental care.

Information from the U.S. Government on Medicare can be found by visiting this link.