Medicare and Medicaid

Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people aged 65 or older and certain younger people with disabilities.

Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that helps pay medical costs for people with limited income who meet certain eligibility criteria. Medicaid also offers financial assistance for nursing home and personal care services. Every state has different rules for Medicaid. 

Medicare

Medicare Part A, or Hospital Insurance, covers hospital stays, hospice care, skilled nursing facilities, and some home health care.

Medicare Part B, or Medical Insurance, covers doctor visits, preventive care and screening, and medical supplies.

Medicare Parts A and B  are both accepted at MD Anderson.  

Medicare Part C, also known as the Medicare Advantage Plan, replaces traditional Medicare. Kelsey-Care Medicare Advantage is the only Medicare Advantage plan with which MD Anderson is contracted.  However, we have a working relationship with some Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO plans.  Please contact your plan to determine if they will work with MD Anderson.

Medicare Supplemental (MediGap) policies allow enrollees to see any provider that accepts Medicare. Some of these supplemental plans are accepted at MD Anderson.  However, we do not accept any supplemental plans that require enrollees to use a provider in a restricted network that does not include MD Anderson or its physicians.

Medicaid 

Traditional Texas Medicaid is accepted at MD Anderson. You must select a Managed Medicaid plan within within 30-45 days, or one will be chosen for you by Texas Medicaid. Traditional Texas Medicaid does not include Managed Medicaid HMO plans.

Managed Medicaid HMO plans are managed by a health insurance company. MD Anderson is only contracted with Texas Children’s Health Plan, STAR and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). MD Anderson has a working relationship with some Managed Medicaid plans. Examples include UHC Community Plan Medicaid-HMO/Texas and Superior Managed Medicaid-HMO/Texas, through our letter of agreement process. MD Anderson does not have a working relationship with the following Managed Medicaid Texas plans: Amerigroup Medicaid-HMO/Texas, Community Health Choice-HMO/Texas, El Paso First Health Medicaid-HMO/Texas, Molina Medicaid-HMO/Texas and Scott and White Medicaid-HMO/Texas. 

Out-of-State Medicaid: MD Anderson does not accept out-of-state traditional Medicaid or Managed Medicaid plans.