People always ask us,

“What is the difference between Medicare and Medicaid?”

Medicare is a Federal (national) health insurance program for adults aged 65 or 66 and older in the United States, depending on their age when they qualify for the insurance.  Some people under 65 with certain disabilities or conditions also qualify for Medicare.  Because it is a Federal program, Medicare has set standards for costs and coverage.  This means someone’s Medicare coverage will be the same no matter what state they live in.

There are also Medicare Advantage plans that “overlay” Medicare.  These policies will cover most of the costs that the original Medicare won’t cover, and the cost for these are taken out of your Medicare benefits monthly.

Medicaid, however, is a joint Federal and State program that helps cover costs for some people with very limited income and resources.  While the Federal government has general rules that each State Medicaid program must follow, this State-specific program can have different elegibility requirements and benefits state-to-state.

That’s why some of the programs have their own names, such as “California Medical.”

Medicaid also offers benefits that Medicare doesn’t normally cover, like nursing home care and persoinal care services.  People with Medicaid usually don’t pay anything for covered medical expenses; however, they may have a small co-pay expense, depending on the procedure and the State in which the procedure is being done.

A great way to remember the difference between the two is to focus on the ending of the words.   The “aid” in Medicaid signifies that it is there to assist those with limited financial resources.

At this time, Chateaux Serenity Assisted Living and Memory Care only offers care for those with private pay options.

We look forward to helping you with your search.