Medicaid provides health coverage to low income families and certain categories of aged and disabled individuals.  This program is jointly financed by the federal and state governments.  The federal government establishes the regulations and minimum standards related to Medicaid eligibility, benefit coverage, and provider participation and reimbursement.  States have options for expanding their programs beyond the minimum standards but are subject to certain federal criteria.

Medicaid benefits are fairly comprehensive and included the services traditional in a commercial, group-health insurance package.  As with eligibility, some benefits are federally mandated while others are optional.  States are allowed to have Medicaid recipients share nominally in the cost of their premiums , deductibles, co-payments, co-insurance or enrollment fees.  Check with your local state Medicaid office for more information.