Final answer:
Eligibility for Medicaid and CHIP depends on income, age, and disability status, with state-specific variations. The ACA's primary objectives to provide affordable insurance and contain healthcare costs are still in place. Fee-for-service plans offer provider flexibility but can lead to higher costs and overutilization of services.
Step-by-step explanation:
Persons may be eligible for Medicaid if they are part of a low-income family, pregnant, elderly, or disabled, and meet specific state requirements. The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is available for children in families with incomes too high for Medicaid but too low to afford private insurance. Two objectives of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare) were to provide access to affordable health insurance and to lower the costs of healthcare. The ACA also aimed to ensure coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions and implemented an individual mandate requiring everyone to have insurance or face a penalty. These objectives have faced challenges but remain largely intact as of the last knowledge update.
Advantages of fee-for-service healthcare plans include flexibility in choosing healthcare providers and direct payment structure, which can motivate providers to offer comprehensive care. However, disadvantages include potential overutilization of healthcare services and higher out-of-pocket costs for patients, which can be especially challenging for those who require frequent or expensive treatments.