Final answer:
Medicaid offers health-care coverage to the poor, disabled, and children under CHIP, with costs shared between the federal government and states. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act aimed to expand Medicaid, though state participation varies. This is part of ongoing efforts to insure more Americans and address the challenges of the healthcare system.
Step-by-step explanation:
Medicaid is a program that provides health-care coverage for various vulnerable groups across the United States. With its inception in 1965, it has been a vital source of medical care for approximately fifty million poor and disabled Americans. A significant proportion of these beneficiaries are over 65. The federal government pays about half the expense of medical services such as hospital stays, physician fees, and diagnostic services, while states contribute the remaining costs.
The federal government mandates coverage for certain groups, notably the blind, the disabled, and children under the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for those under 18 from families below the poverty level. Additionally, Medicaid covers about two-thirds of the costs of nursing home care. States have discretion in setting their eligibility criteria for Medicaid, which can lead to variations in who is covered across different states.
Medicaid expansion, a provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare), encouraged states to broaden their Medicaid eligibility, making medical insurance more accessible to a larger segment of low and moderate income citizens. Despite this, some states, particularly in the Midwest and South, have chosen not to expand their programs. Health coverage for Americans has been a major point of federalism debate in the nation, with continued discussions and efforts aimed at insuring more citizens and reducing the number of uninsured.