There are several government sponsored health insurance programs available to certain groups that you may not be aware of. The following are the typical government sponsored health insurance programs available:
Medicaid Health Insurance
If you’re a low income individual or family and you can’t afford medical care, you may be eligible for Medicaid. Medicaid does not pay you money but instead sends money directly to healthcare providers. There may also be a small co-payment for certain medical services. Medicaid is state-administered so each state has its own eligibility and services guidelines.
Medicare Health Insurance
Medicare health insurance is a government funded program for people who are 65 years and older, people under the age of 65 with certain disabilities, and anyone who has End-Stage Renal Disease, which means you have permanent kidney failure and require dialysis or a transplant. Medicare is divided into two parts: Part A Hospital Insurance and Part B Medical Insurance. It also has Prescription Drug Coverage.
State Children’s Health Insurance Program
State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) is children’s health insurance available to low income parents who don’t qualify for Medicaid. Medicaid extends children’s health insurance coverage to about 28-million poor and near-poor children while SCHIP covers an additional 6-million low-income children. Combined, the two programs cover roughly 25% of the nation’s children and about 50% of all low-income children.
Military Health Insurance
Military Health Insurance also known as TRICARE is the healthcare program for the United State military system. It provides the same kind of benefit civilians have but TIRCARE is only eligible for military personal and retirees, including dependents and some member of the reserve. TRICARE is administered by TRICARE Management Activity and comes under the authority of the Assistant Secretary of Defense. Though this military health insurance is largely applied to civilian healthcare facilities and physicians, it also includes care delivered on military posts and bases.
Indian Health Insurance
The Indian Health Service is the principle health care provider and advocate for Native Americans. Its goal is to raise health awareness and status of Native American and Native Alaskans at designated hospitals and health centers across the country. There are also many urban health centers which further support and supplement these facilities with health and referral services.