An overview of medical benefits and assistance in Maryland
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Medical assistance in Maryland is provided through a large variety of state and federal programs. This overview provides basic information about four categories of help that are available, as well as links to more detailed information about specific programs. The four categories are Medicaid, Medicare, the Maryland Health Connection, and a set of state programs designed to help with prescription drugs.
Medicaid
Medicaid is a joint federal-state program that provides free health care for low-income individuals. In Maryland, Medicaid is also called Medical Assistance. There are many categories of Medicaid – it can provide health insurance to pay for medical care such as doctors, hospitals, and prescriptions, mental health treatment, substance abuse treatment, and more. Special Medicaid programs also pay for care in nursing homes or for long term services and supports in your home or in assisted living. Medicaid is also a very important program for people with disabilities. Below are links to helpful resources.
- Medicaid
- Maryland Children’s Health Program (MCHP)
- Healthy Kids Program (Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment)
- Maryland Children’s Medical Services (CMS)
- Medical Assistance for Nursing Home Care
- Medical Assistance – Aged, Blind and Disabled
- Disability Rights Maryland Publications - Adult Medicaid Services and Children Medicaid Services
Medicare
Medicare is a federal program for people who are age 65 or over, or people with disabilities who have been receiving Social Security Disability Insurance for 24 months. People receiving Medicare must pay premiums and co-pays; Medicare does not pay for everything. Medicare includes several different Parts.
- Medicare program
- Medicare Part A: Pays for hospital care
- Medicare Part B: Pays for doctors and certain types of medical equipment
- Medicare Part C: Allows you to get managed care through private plans called Medicare Advantage plans
- Medicare Part D: Pays for prescriptions
Here are two Medicaid programs that can help you pay your Medicare premiums and co-pays.
Maryland Health Connection
- Maryland Health Connection is the marketplace for individuals and families to compare and enroll in health insurance and determine eligibility for Medicaid and other assistance programs, federal tax credits and cost-sharing reductions. This is the way to access help getting health coverage through the Affordable Care Act. Click here to learn more about Maryland Health Connection.
- To find out or apply for help, go to the Maryland Health Connection website.
- To see if you may be financially eligible, check the Maryland Health Connection Income Eligibility Fact Sheet.
More help with prescriptions
Medicaid, Medicare, and Maryland Health Connection all cover prescriptions. There are other special programs available to help with prescriptions as well.