The Importance of Medicaid for older Americans

Abstract

The brief's key findings are: (1) Most people think of Medicare -- not Medicaid -- as the health program for older Americans, but Medicare does not cover long-term care services (LTSS). (2) Medicaid does pay for LTSS for those with low incomes and also helps cover their Medicare out-of-pocket costs. (3) As a result, those ages 65+ account for 10 percent of total Medicaid enrollees and 20 percent of its spending. (4) Looking ahead, Medicaid may not keep pace with rising demand for LTSS, so a heavier burden may fall on family caregivers or more needs may go unmet.