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

I am a kid who grew up on Medicaid and food assistance and understand what it feels like when you don’t know whether you’re going to be able to afford your bills month to month.

From Salon • Jun. 2, 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

But back then there was no Medicare or Medicaid at all, and that totally changed the budget math.

From MarketWatch • May 28, 2026

“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

Because they were born in New York, Peralta’s children are United States citizens, and their health care is generally covered by Medicaid.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times

Related Words

• Medicare