What’s Medicaid?

Medicaid is a health insurance program. It helps pay for doctor visits, hospital stays, medicine, and other medical care. It is for people who don’t have a lot of money.

The U.S. government created Medicaid in 1965. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed it into law that year. Since then, every state has run its own Medicaid program. States follow federal rules. The federal government and each state share the cost.

In Kentucky, a state agency called the Department for Medicaid Services runs the program. Many people get their care through private health plans called managed care plans. The state pays these plans to help cover your medical bills.

Kentucky Medicaid covers many different people. This includes children, pregnant women, parents, and other adults with low income. It also covers seniors and people with disabilities. About 1.4 million Kentuckians use Medicaid today.

Source: Kentucky Department for Medicaid Services

← Back to all topics