Is Medicaid Coverage Better or Worse than Private Insurance?

It’s clearly, provably better for patients to have Medicaid coverage than to be uninsured, despite what critics of the program claim. Recently, bills in the Senate and the House of Representatives have sought to greatly reduce Medicaid funding and coverage, partially justified by these claims. But is having Medicaid, as those critics also say, much worse than having private insurance?


Aaron has a book coming out November 7. It’s called The Bad Food Bible: How and Why to Eat Sinfully. You can preorder a copy now!!!

Any local bookstore you might frequent. You can ask for the book by name or ISBN 978-0544952560

John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen – Graphics
Meredith Danko – Social Media

And the housekeeping:

[Lanadelrae]

I get free dental checkups on Medicaid lol. Free everything. I am so thankful for it. I'm a 24 college student with no income. Basically one step above homeless. I need my healthcare.

[ems]

The problem with Medicaid in most places is the incredibly small number of providers who will accept it. In some medical specialities - such as outpatient psychiatry - this means that patients can not get any access to providers.

[abartons]

Medicaid varies from states to states. Personally, Medicaid saved my life and pays for my medicine. Private insurance constantly found excuses to deny coverage. These were tests that aren’t expensive.

[lucillemargot]

The quality of the content of your video is great. Very impressive and useful. Will be waiting for more updates. Keep posting.

[mountains]

The problem is that a huge numbers of providers don't accept medicaid. In effect this makes it so you have to wait much longer for an appointment and for a specialist you might have to drive much further.

[dlcrzrc]

Hey, is there any episode on Direct Primary Care?

[AntonEMaes]

How do the Rand study results compare now that healthcare prices have risen so much? A 90% AV plan in the 70s would be like a 97%+ plan today in terms of actual out of pocket dollar amounts indexed to wage growth.

[JasonT]

Great video! I'm not sure if you guys have made a video on this before, but I would love a video on a sort of 'ideal' US healthcare system. I'm not sure one exists, or if it exists, if it could be statistically proven to be the best (I imagine the criterion for 'best is subject to debate). The NPR radio show planet money made an episode on ten or so changes to the tax code with bipartisan support. They didn't interview politicians but economists who identified with different segments of the political spectrum. That is one of my favorite episodes of the entire series because I think it outlines many practical, reliable changes which have arguments based on data and principles independent of political affiliation. Anyway, I loved the episode. You guys and gals are the best.

[aladinm.mariano]

The bottom line is, it depends upon the person, healthy or sickly, responsible for their health or not. Funding by private or public insurance may have little effect on the outcomes of treatment. People who have emphasized preventive measures will most likely be responsible and have control of what happens to their health.

[AaronDanielKuechlerTesch]

Any hope for an audible version of your book? I have a voice actor that owes me and want to support the Healthcare triage mission...

[Noms_Chompsky]

I've seen a lot of Youtubers show off their funkopops, but that bobbleheaded little dude over your right shoulder is by far the most exclusive and rare one I've ever seen. Smart move keeping it in it's original packaging my guy!

[samueljackson]

I’ve had three different private insurance companies and medicaid is better by far.

[JoseaguilarEE]

Hey do they pay you for residency? For surgeon program

[GM-wfel]

Hello. Which states give the most Medicaid and Medicare Savings Program QMB to help poor people pay for what Medicare doesnt? Thanks.

[TheUniqueHistoryChannel]

There are people who are on Medicaid that aren’t poor. If it wasn’t for Medicaid some people in my family wouldn’t have gotten things done. Plus they weren’t poor or low income, it’s that the private insurance kept denying them.

[powderwigwoodenteethmf]

The state just sent me a card that says Medicaid on it. I never even applied for it. I have BCBS for years now. What do I even do?

[joeyguillen]

Medicaid for me was a vast improvement in coverage a service was waiting 2 weeks plus if I need as doc on private insurance on Medicaid it is 7 to 10 days was paying 520 a month for that with a $40 co pay. Medicaid

[tastelesstouch]

The issue isn't a comparison between Medicare versus cost-sharing its Medicare versus massive profits

[MothersLovingArmsNursery]

If you are having a hard time finding providers, ask to get a care coordinator, every insurance has them, even medicaid insurance companies. A care coordinator will help you get what you need.

[newjerseylion]

Medicaid varies state by state. In New Jersey the state pay private insurance companies to cover people on medacaid. So you public fun des insurance with the delivery of private insurance it works quite well.