Final answer:
Medicaid was created in 1965 as part of Lyndon Johnson's Great Society. It is a joint health insurance program between both the states and the federal government. Medicaid provides medical insurance for certain low-income people, including those below the poverty line, with a focus on families with children, the elderly, and the disabled.
Step-by-step explanation:
Medicaid was created by Congress in 1965 as part of Lyndon Johnson's Great Society. It is a joint health insurance program between both the states and the federal government. The federal government helps fund Medicaid, but each state is responsible for administering the program, determining the level of benefits, and determining eligibility.
Medicaid provides medical insurance for certain low-income people, including those below the poverty line, with a focus on families with children, the elderly, and the disabled. About one-third of Medicaid spending is for low-income mothers with children. The program ensures that participants receive a basic level of benefits, but because each state sets eligibility requirements and provides varying levels of service, the program differs from state to state.