Is Obama care and Medicaid the same thing?

No, Obamacare (the Affordable Care Act or ACA) and Medicaid are not the same, but they are related: Medicaid is a pre-existing government program for low-income individuals that the ACA expanded, while Obamacare also created private insurance marketplaces with subsidies for others, so they work together but serve different needs and have different eligibility. Think of Obamacare as the big law that includes both private options and an expanded Medicaid.

What is the difference between Medicaid and Obamacare?

Medicaid offers low-cost access to care for individuals with limited income, particularly in expansion states. Obamacare (through the marketplace) caters to individuals whose income is too high for Medicaid but still eligible for subsidies.

What is the difference between Medicare and Obamacare?

Medicare is a federal program for seniors (65+) and some younger disabled individuals, while Obamacare (ACA) provides subsidized private plans via marketplaces for those under 65 or without other coverage, with differences in eligibility (age/disability vs. income), provider networks, and administration (government vs. private insurers). You can't just switch; Medicare covers specific age/disability groups, while Obamacare helps others get affordable private plans, and some people with Medicare can even use Obamacare (like Part D) for better drug coverage, but Medicare usually pays first. 

Can you have Medicaid and Obamacare at the same time?

Keeping both Marketplace and Medicaid or CHIP

If you have qualifying health coverage through Medicaid or CHIP coverage, you'll pay full price for your Marketplace plan premium and covered services.

Is Obamacare a Medicaid plan?

Medicaid, the government health insurance program for low-income United States residents, is a social welfare program like SNAP food stamps or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families. Obamacare health plans are not run by the government but must comply with various state and federal government regulations.

Is Obamacare Medicaid? - CountyOffice.org

Why are people on Medicaid instead of Obamacare?

While the two share various similarities, they vary greatly in many regards. On a general basis, Obamacare, or the Affordable Care Act, aims to provide affordable health coverage to all Americans. On the other hand, Medicaid provides coverage for those in need that cannot afford coverage otherwise.

What disqualifies you from Medicaid?

Not Financially Eligible

Resources and income above the state limits may disqualify the applicant. Medicaid state guidelines may change from year to year depending on legislation, so it is important to regularly check updated limits or engage the services of a Medicaid planning specialist who can guide you with this.

How did Obamacare change the Medicaid program?

It did so by expanding Medicaid to people with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level (the poverty level in the continental U.S. is $15,650 for a single individual in 2025); creating new health insurance exchange markets through which individuals can purchase coverage and receive financial help to afford ...

Why did I get denied for Medicaid?

Understanding why your Medicaid application was denied is crucial to rectifying the situation. Primary reasons include incomplete applications, failure to respond swiftly to Medicaid correspondence, being over income limits, and more.

What is the highest income to qualify for Obamacare?

For Obamacare (ACA) subsidies, there's technically no upper income limit through 2025 due to special extensions (Inflation Reduction Act), making subsidies available if benchmark plan costs exceed 8.5% of income; however, for traditional subsidy eligibility (before 2026), the cutoff is generally 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), which for 2025 coverage is around $62,600 for one person or $128,600 for a family of four, but this limit returns in 2026 unless extended again. 

Can I stay on Obamacare instead of Medicare?

You can keep your Marketplace plan until your Medicare coverage starts, and if you want, you can keep it afterwards. However, if you decide to have both your Marketplace plan and Medicare coverage, know that you won't be eligible for any premium tax credits or cost savings you previously got from your Marketplace plan.

What will Medicaid not pay for?

Non-Prescription Drugs and Health Supplements

In many states, Medicaid won't pay for non-prescription drugs, such as painkillers, over-the-counter allergy medicine, and cold remedies. These medicines are available for everyone to buy and aren't covered under insurance programs.

What is the downside of being on Medicaid?

It takes some financial planning. The second downside is that it restricts you to where you can go live. If you need nursing home care, you can only go to the places that accept Medicaid as a benefit.

Who uses Medicaid the most?

The Medicaid program is the largest single source of health care coverage in the United States, covering nearly half of all children, over 40% of births (including nearly 50% of births in rural communities), many low-income elderly and disabled individuals, and working adults in low-wage jobs that do not offer ...

What's going to happen to Medicaid?

Not every state is cutting Medicaid yet, but they eventually will. Most of the provisions in the 2025 budget reconciliation bill—HR 1—have yet to go into effect and these cuts will have a devastating impact on state budgets. KFF analysis shows that HR 1 will cut federal Medicaid spending by $1 trillion over ten years.

What is Obamacare called now?

"Obamacare" is still called that informally, but its official name is the Affordable Care Act (ACA), or sometimes the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). People also refer to it as the "new health care law" or "health care reform," and the online marketplaces for buying insurance are called the Health Insurance Marketplace, like HealthCare.gov or Covered California in California.
 

How do I know if I have Medicaid?

You Must Contact Your State Medicaid Agency to:

See if you're eligible for Medicaid or CHIP. Check on a Medicaid or CHIP application. Get a Medicaid or CHIP replacement card.

How much can I have in my bank account for Medicaid?

Definition of Medicaid's Asset Limit

If you want to learn about the income limit, click here. In most states in 2026, the individual asset limit for Medicaid long-term care in a nursing home or at home is $2,000. This means applicants must have $2,000 or less in countable assets.

Why would they deny Medicaid?

One of the most frequent reasons for Medicaid denials is patient eligibility. Medicaid eligibility can change monthly, so a patient who was eligible at the time of service might lose eligibility before the claim is submitted. If the patient's eligibility status isn't checked, you could end up with a denied claim.

What is the maximum amount to make for Medicaid?

The maximum income for Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) depends on your household size and specific program, but for most low-income adults (19-64), it's 138% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), which equates to roughly $21,597 annually for a single person and $44,367 for a family of four in 2025. Different groups like children, pregnant women, or those needing long-term care have higher or different limits, so it's crucial to check your state's guidelines. 

Who is not eligible for Obamacare?

You are not eligible for Obamacare if: You do not live in the U.S. You are incarcerated. You are not a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawfully present noncitizen in the U.S.

What's the cheapest medical insurance?

The cheapest medical insurance is often Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) for low-income individuals, offering free or low-cost coverage; otherwise, affordable options on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace (HealthCare.gov or state exchanges like Covered California) with subsidies are key, especially Bronze plans for minimal monthly costs but higher deductibles, or exploring options from insurers like Kaiser Permanente, as costs depend heavily on income, location, and eligibility for financial help. 

Is Obamacare cheaper than Medicare?

Neither Medicare nor Obamacare is universally "cheaper"; it depends heavily on your age, income, and health needs, with Medicare often less expensive for seniors (especially with premium-free Part A) but potentially requiring expensive supplements, while Obamacare (ACA) offers significant income-based subsidies making it very affordable for low-to-middle-income individuals, but pricey without them. For most under 65, Obamacare is the only choice, while Medicare is for 65+ or certain disabilities, and once eligible for Medicare, you lose ACA subsidies, often making Medicare the more economical path.