What's the difference between Medicare and Medicaid, in plain English?

What this means

• Medicare charges you a monthly Part B premium, deductibles, and 20 percent of many services. It does not cover long-term nursing home care.
• Medicaid has little or no premium and does cover long-term care and home care, but you must be under your state's income and asset limits.
• When you have both, Medicare pays first and Medicaid picks up premiums, copays, and services Medicare skips. People with both are called dual eligible.

What to do first

1. Call a free SHIP counselor and ask them to check whether you may qualify for a Medicare Savings Program, which is the doorway most people go through to get both.
2. Apply for Extra Help with Social Security at the same time, since approval for one often helps the other.
3. Apply for Medicaid through your state if your income and savings are low. Each state has its own limits and its own name for the program.
4. If you are denied, ask what the limit was and by how much you were over. Some costs, like medical bills, can be subtracted in many states.

What you'll need

• Your Medicare card
• Proof of income and bank statements
• Records of medical costs you pay out of pocket
• Proof of citizenship or lawful status and your state residency

Where to go

• Free SHIP counseling: https://www.shiphelp.org/SHIPs/
• Where to get help with Medicaid in your state: https://www.medicaid.gov/about-us/where-can-people-get-help-medicaid-chip