<P> Medicaid in the United States is a social health care program for families and individuals with limited resources . The Health Insurance Association of America describes Medicaid as a `` government insurance program for persons of all ages whose income and resources are insufficient to pay for health care '' . Medicaid is the largest source of funding for medical and health - related services for people with low income in the United States , providing free health insurance to 74 million low - income and disabled people ( as of 2017 ) . It is a means - tested program that is jointly funded by the state and federal governments and managed by the states , with each state currently having broad leeway to determine who is eligible for its implementation of the program . States are not required to participate in the program , although all have since 1982 . Medicaid recipients must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents , and may include low - income adults , their children , and people with certain disabilities . Poverty alone does not necessarily qualify someone for Medicaid . </P>
<P> Medicaid in the United States is a social health care program for families and individuals with limited resources . The Health Insurance Association of America describes Medicaid as a `` government insurance program for persons of all ages whose income and resources are insufficient to pay for health care '' . Medicaid is the largest source of funding for medical and health - related services for people with low income in the United States , providing free health insurance to 74 million low - income and disabled people ( as of 2017 ) . It is a means - tested program that is jointly funded by the state and federal governments and managed by the states , with each state currently having broad leeway to determine who is eligible for its implementation of the program . States are not required to participate in the program , although all have since 1982 . Medicaid recipients must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents , and may include low - income adults , their children , and people with certain disabilities . Poverty alone does not necessarily qualify someone for Medicaid . </P>
who is responsible for managing medicaid insurance benefits
who is responsible for managing medicaid insurance benefits
the United States government
the United States government