Medicaid

American  

[med-i-keyd] / ˈmɛd ɪˌkeɪd /

noun

(sometimes lowercase)

1. a U.S. government program, financed by federal, state, and local funds, of hospitalization and medical insurance for persons of all ages within certain income limits.

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Medicaid British  

/ ˈmɛdɪˌkeɪd /

noun

1. a health assistance programme financed by federal, state, and local taxes to help pay hospital and medical costs for persons of low income

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Medicaid Cultural  

1. A state and federally funded program that reimburses healthcare providers for care given to qualifying people who cannot pay for their medical expenses.

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Etymology

Origin of Medicaid

medic(al) + aid

Example Sentences

The looming impact of federal Medicaid cuts has reignited a long-simmering, costly battle between California’s medical industry and one of its largest health worker unions.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

Nebraska, Florida, New York and California, among other states, exempt a primary residence from assets counted for Medicaid eligibility under certain circumstances.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026

Almost a decade ago, Nebraska made it easier to recover Medicaid costs.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026

Yet the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reported this spring that 23.1 million consumers had signed up during this year’s open-enrollment period.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026

Her Appalachian childhood had acquainted her with government assistance, and she was a whiz with the Medicaid forms.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

Related Words

• Medicare