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

“This is a district that has been devastated by cuts to healthcare, a large Medicaid population, so she’s an incredible candidate and definitely can speak to the issues needed on health care.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026

His proposal would require monthly premiums for undocumented immigrants receiving coverage from Medi-Cal, the state’s version of the federal Medicaid program.

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026

On Jan. 8, 2021, the first Trump administration approved an agreement that for the first time let a state, Tennessee, keep a share of the savings it generated through better management of its Medicaid program.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

Medicare and Medicaid are expected to cover $263 billion, or 64%, of the total healthcare and long-term-care payments for people living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias.

From MarketWatch • May 19, 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