How Well Does Medicaid Improve Health?

A recently updated study may indicate that Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) is not actually as effective at improving health as originally thought.  However, people who receive Medicaid often feel healthier and are happier about their healthcare than individuals without Medicaid.    The study comes from researchers of the 2008 Medicaid expansion in Oregon, which expanded the program through a lottery system, allowing some people in and leaving others out.  Because the system was set up in this manner, the researchers were able to study the effects of Medicaid on otherwise very similarly situated people.

When the study was first completed in 2010, it indicated there were substantial benefits for Medicaid recipients.  However, in the new update, researchers dug deeper to compare actual health results for Medicaid recipients compared to individuals who did not receive Medicaid.  When comparing ordinary health risk factors, such as the prevalence of high blood pressure and cholesterol, the study did not find any benefit for Medicaid despite Medicaid recipients visiting the physician more frequently.  This new information is being used to argue that Medicaid expansion was not helpful.

However, keeping Medicaid and, for California purposes Medi-Cal, in perspective, the study only covered the first two years of the Medicaid expansion in Oregon.  For most Medi-Cal recipients, coverage is necessary for maintaining lifelong health or for enhancing or improving end of life care.  To learn whether the expansion would have an effect on these priorities would require a much longer study, a more targeted study, or both.  While significant physical differences between the two groups were not seen, there were other significant effects of Medicaid on participants.  Medicaid recipients were under less financial strain, used more preventive services, and were less depressed.

As healthcare costs continue to rise, Medi-Cal will remain an important benefit available for covering your needs.  By properly planning your estate in advance, through the use of a QMap Trust, it may be possible to obtain many of the advantages of Medi-Cal without subjecting yourself to impoverishment so that you may still leave a legacy to your heirs.  Medi-Cal coverage can improve your quality of life, particularly if you need substantial or long-term care.

Similarly, certain low-income wartime veterans may qualify for Aid & Attendance Non-Service Connected Disability Pension from the Department of Veterans Affairs to help cover the cost of long-term care.  In many cases, the eligible veteran’s spouse may also apply for and receive the benefit.  Aid & Attendance is not subject to estate recovery like Medi-Cal.  Planning in advance for dealing with the family home in Aid & Attendance may be achieved through the use of a QVap Trust.

It is important to learn how you can plan for long-term care before you need it.  By planning in advance, you can ensure that your family will be taken care of, you will be eligible for benefits, and that your increased health needs will not be a burden to you and your family.  According to Oregon’s study, you’ll be happy you did (within 2 years!)

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