Can I have both Medicare and Medicaid?
The short answer
Yes. Having both Medicare and Medicaid at the same time is common and has a name: dual eligibility. Each program covers different things, and together they can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket costs.
The full explanation
People who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid are often called dual eligible beneficiaries. Medicare is a federal program based primarily on age or disability. Medicaid is a joint federal and state program based on income and assets. Qualifying for one does not disqualify you from the other. When you have both, Medicare is typically the primary payer, meaning it pays first. Medicaid then acts as secondary coverage and can help pay costs that Medicare doesn't fully cover, like premiums, copays, and deductibles, depending on your specific Medicaid eligibility level. There are also special Medicare Advantage plans designed specifically for people with both coverages. These are called D-SNPs, which stands for Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans. They coordinate your Medicare and Medicaid benefits in one plan and often include extra benefits like dental, vision, transportation, and over-the-counter allowances. Not every state's Medicaid program works the same way, so the exact benefits and coordination rules depend on where you live. It is worth getting help from a counselor or licensed agent to make sure your coverage is set up correctly.
Related Medicare Resources
In
specifically
In Utah, Medicaid is administered by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. Dual eligible residents may have access to D-SNP plans from carriers like UHC, Humana, Molina, and Devoted Health, depending on the county. The Utah ADRC network can help you understand what you qualify for and how your benefits work together, at no cost to you.
What this means for you
For you, this means that if your income is limited, having both programs can work together to cover a much larger share of your health care costs than either program would alone.
Related Questions
What is a dual eligible special needs plan (D-SNP)?
Can I get Medicare if I have Medicaid?
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How do Medicare and Medicaid work together in Utah?
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