By skyforbes 
If your are young, or are new to the healthcare debate, you can be excused for not knowing the differences between Medicare and Medicaid and how they apply to you. Here’s a quick primer using plain language to help you understand these two large government funded and administered healthcare programs.
First a bit of background. Medicare and Medicaid were created in 1965 during the Johnson Administration under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act
Medicare provides health insurance to people age 65 and older, regardless of income or medical history. Before Medicare 1 in 3 seniors lived in poverty, after it’s far less than 1 in 10.
Medicaid is the largest healthcare program in the world. Over 70 million people receive Medicaid benefits. It is for low income adults, seniors in long term care, children, and people on disability. Half of the kids in the United States are born on Medicaid. Half of our seniors are also on Medicaid. Nationwide 41% of people on Medicaid are white, so it’s not a “minority welfare program” like many people think. In fact it some states, like West Virginia, 89% of the people on Medicaid are white.
Medicare and Medicaid are not programs just programs for the poor or for minorities. You, your parents, your children will all need one of these benefits at some point. They provide a safety net for people when they need it the most. It is our moral responsibility as a society and nation of thinking, feeling humans to provide and expand these basic services. Trumpcare does just the opposite.
Hat tip to Andy Slavitt @aslavitt and DeRay Mckesson @deray host of the podcast Pod Save the People for the information cited in this post.