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Government benefit: side-by-side comparison
	Medicaid for older adults
Country	United States
Type	Health care
Official name	Medicaid
Run by	Your state, within federal rules set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Who it is for	People with limited income and resources. Rules for people 65 or older follow the income and asset methods of SSI.
Eligibility	Each state decides the details, including what counts as income and resources. For people 65 or older, states generally use SSI income rules. Some states use stricter rules. Many states have a medically needy program, so people with high medical costs can qualify by spending down income above the state limit.
What you get	Health coverage. If you also have Medicare, Medicare pays first and Medicaid can help with what is left, up to the state's limit.
How to apply	Contact your state Medicaid agency. You can apply at any time of year.
Official sources	Seniors and Medicare–Medicaid enrollees Eligibility policy
Last checked	15 October 2026

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