Medicaid: Prescription Drug Benefits

Medicaid is a joint federal-state program in the United States that offers medical insurance for low-income individuals. It is the largest single source of health insurance in the country, in 2015 providing coverage to almost 70 million people, including 33 million children. Unlike Medicare, which provides health insurance primarily to elderly and disabled persons, state participation in the Medicaid program is also voluntary, although all 50 U.S. states participate in the program as of 2015. In addition, each state has some leeway in deciding matters such as eligibility for Medicaid, and the specific benefits provided, with the exception of the EPSDT program discussed below. Although pharmacy coverage is not an obligatory benefit under federal Medicaid law, all states at present provide at least some coverage ...