With major changes on the horizon for Medicaid—through policy shifts, eligibility redeterminations, and updated rules—it’s more important than ever to understand how the program works. One often overlooked fact? Medicaid goes by many different names depending on where you live.
While “Medicaid” is the national term for the program that provides health coverage to low-income individuals and families, the original law enacted in 1965 established funding for states to provide “medical assistance” to specific low-income populations including children and individuals with disabilities. Medicaid expanded over time to include additional populations and greater coverage. Then in 1997, Congress created the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) as a building block from Medicaid to private health insurance.
Each state administers Medicaid (and CHIP) differently—and many give their program a unique name. This can create confusion for applicants, providers, and even policymakers navigating services across state lines.
Understanding these different names isn’t just trivia—it’s a key step in making sure people can find, apply for, and keep the coverage they need in a changing policy landscape.
Why So Many Names?
Medicaid is administered by each state in partnership with the federal government. That means states have the flexibility to tailor their programs to local needs—including branding and naming. Some states emphasize family health, others highlight children’s coverage, and some fold their CHIP into Medicaid, providing extended coverage to children under one umbrella, while others maintain two separate and distinct programs.
Examples Across the Country
Here are just a few of the different names Medicaid goes by:
- California – Medi-Cal
- Connecticut – Husky Health
- Massachusetts – MassHealth
- Washington – Apple Health
- Oklahoma – SoonerCare
- Tennessee – TennCare
- Wisconsin – BadgerCare Plus
- Georgia – PeachCare for Kids (CHIP)
- Kansas – KanCare
- New Jersey – NJ FamilyCare
- Virginia – Cardinal Care
- Medical Assistance – Used in several states like Pennsylvania and Minnesota
Each of these programs must offer the same core Medicaid benefits, but the application process, additional services, and eligibility rules may differ.
Why It Matters
If you’re moving states, applying for benefits, helping someone else access care, or just wondering if policy changes impact your insurance, knowing the local Medicaid name can:
- Help you find the right program information faster
- Avoid confusion with private plans or Medicare
- Ensure you understand your state-specific benefits and rules
It also helps frontline workers, community organizations, and health care professionals better support individuals who are navigating complex systems under different labels.
Whether it’s called MassHealth, SoonerCare, or Apple Health, it’s still Medicaid at its core—offering vital coverage to millions of Americans. But the name matters, because awareness is the first step toward access.
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