Certified Application Counselor Practice Test

Medicaid coverage primarily varies by what criteria?

1. Age

2. Income and state residency

3. Employment status

4. Marital status

The correct answer is: Income and state residency

Medicaid coverage primarily varies by income and state residency because the program is designed to provide health insurance to low-income individuals and families, and its specifics can differ significantly from state to state. Each state administers its own Medicaid program based on federal guidelines, which allows them to set their own income eligibility thresholds and additional requirements. This means that whether a person qualifies for Medicaid is highly dependent on their household's income relative to the poverty level, as well as the state in which they live. Some states have expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, which affects eligibility criteria, while others have not. In contrast, while age, employment status, and marital status may influence an individual's eligibility or application process for certain programs or benefits, they are not the primary determining factors for Medicaid coverage. Medicaid is fundamentally a means-tested program, heavily reliant on income, and shaped by state-level policy decisions.