What Is Medicaid, Medicare And CHIP Insurance?

Insurance is difficult to understand for a lot of people. It’s more so when contemplating state-sponsored insurance such as Medicaid and CHIP or government insurance like Medicare. Here’s what it’s all about.

What Is Medicaid?

Medicaid is an insurance program offered by the states to cover low-income families or individuals. You’ll go online to your state’s Human Resources website to enroll. You’ll be asked to provide proof of identity, residence, power bills, rent, and income.

When you’re approved, you will use your Medicaid coverage for any health concerns, maintenance, and wellness. This includes dentistry. Adult Medicaid users will need to check their state’s rules and requirements to ascertain if Medicaid covers any or all aspects of dentistry.

Generally, Medicaid covers root canals, cleaning, dental exams, crowns, fillings, and orthodontic consults. Only 30 states allow dental coverage by Medicaid. Federal restrictions on insurance have been pretty severe in recent years, so it no longer pays dentists to accept it. You’ll need to ask which dentists accept Medicaid.

What Is CHIP?

CHIP stands for Children’s Health Insurance Program. It’s administered by the states, but only if dental necessity is determined by a medical professional. It must cover early and periodic screening, diagnostic, and treatment or EPSDT.

States are required to administer this at certain intervals to determine medical necessity in the form of infection or missing teeth. A separate CHIP account must be obtained for a child to maintain oral health, restore lost or broken teeth, and handle emergencies.

Are Medicaid And CHIP The Same Thing?

No. CHIP falls in the Medicaid category but is a separate entity in and of itself. It was meant to cover low-income children who fall outside the income parameters for Medicaid. While Medicaid is required to cover EPSDT, CHIP is not. Additionally, states may design coverage parameters for CHIP that Medicaid can’t cover.

That’s due to the matching funds by the federal government to the states. Medicaid receives 56 percent matching funds while CHIP receives 71 percent. The snag to that is that there are no pre-established limits for Medicaid or caps, while CHIP funds have a cap. States are restricted to their particular allotment of money.

Is CHIP Part Of Medicare Or Medicaid?

CHIP falls under the category of Medicaid and is administered by the states. Medicare is federally funded and administered. It’s meant to cover the health and wellness of seniors 65 and older, the disabled, and those with end-stage renal disease or complete kidney failure that calls for dialysis or a transplant.

What Is Medicare?

We’ve explained the basics of Medicare, but not that you automatically get it when you’re 65 years old. If this automatic thing doesn’t happen, you’ll have three months before your 65th birthday, the month of your birthday, and three months afterward to sign up for Medicare.

Medicare consists of Parts A, B, and D. Part A is the hospitalization portion of Medicare. You’ll pay no premium each month, although there will be a $1,556 deductible in 2022 to meet. Part B is the doctor's office part of it, and your $170 premium in 2022 will come out of your disability or Social Security check.

Part D is the prescription drug portion of Medicare. It’s not included in Parts A and B, but must be paid for through private insurance. Its premiums are mostly below $50 per month and cover what’s on an unchanging (for the most part) list of medications. Some low-income people will receive help paying for their medications through a charitable concern associated with Part D.

Here’s where Medicare is confusing to lots of people. You have Medicare Part C or a typical HMO to cover what Parts A and B don’t cover. You have Medigap plans A through the good Lord alone knows what letter it is this year. Medigap covers what Parts A and B don’t, too, and that includes premiums and deductibles. Part C doesn’t do that, but it does other good things.

What Is Medicare Part C?

Also known as a Medicare Advantage Plan, Medicare Part C is like an ordinary HMO or PPO. It must cover Medicare Parts A, B, and D just like Original Medicare.. Some health plans cover hearing, sight, and dental, while others don’t. Part C is only carried through private insurance providers. These providers dictate to some extent what Part C will cover and its premiums.

Some choose Advantage plans for the extras some of them offer. Some offer fitness program memberships, transportation to doctor offices, over-the-counter drugs, as well as health and wellness programs and services.

Some Advantage plans can customize their policies to benefit chronically ill patients for treatment of particular conditions or diseases. These people should consult their preferred provider for rules and regulations to see if they qualify and what the limitations might be before signing up.

Also check with your preferred provider for broader rules that change each year such as:

What Is Medicare Part D?

Part D is prescription drug coverage and comes with Original Medicare. There are two ways to get it, and both are through private insurance providers: in Original Medicare, and in an Advantage Plan.

However you get Part D, it must cover both the generic and brand name medications and insulin necessary to most seniors. Not only that, but it must cover anti-cancer drugs, antidepressants, antipsychotic medicines, HIV/AIDS treatments, and anticonvulsive seizure treatments.

Vaccines must be covered under Part D such as shots for shingles, and pneumonia shots, none of which are covered by Part B.

What Part D doesn’t cover is anything over-the-counter like cold and flu preparations, vitamins, pain relievers, weight loss or gain preparations, sexual preparations for any reason, and hair growth preparations.

What Are Medigap Plans?

Medigap plans are sold by private insurance providers and covers what Original Medicare doesn’t cover. They primarily cover Parts A and B premiums, deductibles, and co-payments or co-insurance. Medicare will pay its part, and then Medigap takes over to pay the remainder. Some plans even cover medical care when you travel overseas.

Some things to remember about Medigap plans are as follows:

Types Of Medigap Plans

Medigap plans offered are Plans A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N: