What state uses the most Medicaid?

Asked by: Breanna Harvey  |  Last update: December 5, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (59 votes)

As of May 2021, over five million children were enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP programs in California, more than any other state. As of January 2021, the median Medicaid/CHIP eligibility level for children was 255 percent of the federal poverty level.

Who is the largest Medicaid provider in the US?

Today, Centene is the largest Medicaid managed care organization in the nation serving 13.1 million members, and a leader in California, Florida, New York, and Texas, four of the largest Medicaid states.

What state has the highest Medicaid limit?

The state with the highest income limits for both a family of three and individuals is Washington, D.C. If you live in this area, a family of three can qualify for Medicaid if their income is at 221% of the FPL. For other adults, the limit is set at 251% of the FPL.

What is the largest population served by Medicaid?

While Medicaid covers 1 in 5 people living in the United States, Medicaid is a particularly significant source of coverage for certain populations. In 2022, Medicaid covered 4 in 10 children, 8 in 10 children in poverty, 1 in 6 adults, and 6 in 10 nonelderly adults in poverty.

What state has the highest Medicaid usage?

California has more Medicaid and CHIP enrollees than any other state in the United States.

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Who is the largest payer of Medicaid?

Medicaid is the largest single payer of maternity care in the U.S., covering more than 40% of U.S. births and playing a critical role in ensuring healthy moms and babies. Medicaid accounts for 75% of public family planning dollars, every $1 of which saves Medicaid $7.09.

What state is the hardest to get Medicaid in?

The worst, in order from 50th to 41st, are in Mississippi, Idaho, Texas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Indiana, South Carolina, Colorado, Alabama, and Missouri.

What race is on Medicaid the most?

In the United States, during 2021-2023 (average), Medicaid coverage percent at the time of birth were highest for American Indian/Alaska Native women (65.4%), followed by Blacks (64.1%), Hispanics (58.6%), Whites (27.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islanders (24.0%).

How many states do not accept Medicaid?

To date, 41 states (including DC) have adopted the Medicaid expansion and 10 states have not adopted the expansion. Current status for each state is based on KFF tracking and analysis of state expansion activity.

Which health insurance denies the most claims?

According to the analysis, AvMed and UnitedHealthcare tied for the highest denial rate, with both companies denying about a third of in-network claims for plans sold on the Marketplace in 2023, respectively.

Is Medicaid good in all 50 states?

No. Because each state has its own Medicaid eligibility requirements, you can't just transfer coverage from one state to another, nor can you use your Medicaid coverage when you're temporarily visiting another state, unless you need emergency health care.

Who has control over Medicaid?

At the federal level, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) administers Medicaid and oversees states' programs. States may choose to participate in Medicaid, but if they do, they must comply with core federal requirements.

What state has the best Medicaid program?

The top states—ranked from 1 to 10—are Massachusetts, Nebraska, Vermont, Alaska, Wisconsin, Rhode Island, Minnesota, New York, Washington, and New Hampshire.

Which states did not expand Medicaid?

The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, was enacted in 2010, but 10 states have not expanded Medicaid, the federal-state program that provides health care for low-income people. They are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

What states have the most expensive health care?

North Carolina is the most expensive state for healthcare, and Hawaii is the most affordable, according to one new analysis. The analysis is from Forbes Advisor, which used data from KFF, the CDC and Mental Health America to compare all 50 states and Washington, D.C., across nine metrics.

What is the healthiest race in America?

Whites are usually taken as the standard against which other groups are compared, but they are not necessarily in the best health. Hispanics appear to be healthier than whites on a number of measures, though not all. Asians are generally in better health than any other group (Hummer et al., 2004).

Do all poor people in the US qualify for Medicaid?

In all states, Medicaid provides coverage for some low-income people, families and children, pregnant people, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Some states expanded their Medicaid program to cover all adults below a certain income level.

What is the downside of Medicaid?

Disadvantages of Medicaid

One of the primary reasons for this is that Medicaid reimbursements are lower than those of commercial insurers for most procedures and treatments.

What state has the best healthcare for poor people?

  • Hawaii. #1 in Health Care Affordability. ...
  • Vermont. #2 in Health Care Affordability. ...
  • Massachusetts. #3 in Health Care Affordability. ...
  • Iowa. #4 in Health Care Affordability. ...
  • South Dakota. #5 in Health Care Affordability. ...
  • Rhode Island. #6 in Health Care Affordability. ...
  • Minnesota. #6 in Health Care Affordability. ...
  • Maine.

Which states have free healthcare?

  • California. State offers public health coverage to all adults regardless of immigration status.
  • Colorado. State offers private health coverage with state subsidies to all adults regardless of immigration status.
  • Illinois. ...
  • Minnesota. ...
  • New york. ...
  • Oregon. ...
  • Washington. ...
  • District of columbia.

Who does Medicaid spend the most on?

51 percent of Medicaid's funds were spent on seniors and people with disabilities in 2021, the most recent year for which data are available.

How many doctors accept Medicaid?

Nearly 70% of physicians accept new Medicaid patients.

Is Medicaid or Medicare more generous?

The study finds that provider reimbursement rates are about 10 percent higher on average under Medicare, accounting for three-quarters of the increased cost of coverage. Overall healthcare utilization is roughly comparable across the two programs, only 3 percent higher under Medicare.