Can I Have Both Medicare And Medicaid

by | Oct 20, 2020

There are two major affordable healthcare programs available to American citizens; Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare is the option for people age 65 and older as well as people with qualifying disabilities. Medicaid is a more broad option that provides health coverage for low-income people and people with disabilities. 

If you are currently enrolled in Medicaid, and soon to be eligible for Medicare, you may be curious about how these two types of coverage interact with each other. Here is what you need to know about Medicare and Medicaid interactions. 

Enrolling in Medicare and Medicaid 

If you aren’t aware of how each program works, you may not be sure if it is possible to enroll in both Medicare and Medicaid. In most cases, yes, it is possible, but there are some things you need to know if you plan to enroll in both programs at the same time. 

Firstly, people who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid will likely pay close to nothing for out of pocket health care costs. People who qualify for both programs are called “dual eligibles”, and account for roughly 20 percent of Medicare beneficiaries. Dual eligibles are separated into two categories, based on whether they receive partial or full benefits from Medicaid. 

How Are Costs Reimbursed For Dual Eligible Beneficiaries

Dual eligible beneficiaries will have their health care expenses paid by Medicare first and Medicaid last. If Medicare does not cover a specific health care service, Medicaid will be the primary payer in those situations. Some dual-eligible beneficiaries may decide to bolster their coverage by investing in a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan. If they do, then the Medicare Supplement Insurance policy will pay second and Medicaid will pay last in most instances. 

How To Know If You Are Dual-Eligible 

As stated previously, more than 20% of Medicare beneficiaries are dual-eligible, meaning it isn’t necessarily uncommon. In order to find out if you are dual-eligible, you should contact your Medicaid office. To find your local Medicaid office, do an online search, and make sure the place you are reaching out to is a government office. 

If you need help with this process, contact a qualified professional for assistance. The talented team at The Fussell Group Insurance Advisors can help you learn more about dual eligibility. Reach out to us now to get started.