The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is a federal agency that provides millions of Americans with government-assisted health insurance such as Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Health Insurance Marketplace. In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a bill to establish Medicare and Medicaid, which led to the formation of the CMS in 1977. Previously referred to as the Health Care Finance Administration (HCFA), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) became its new name in 2001. Since its formation in the ’60s, the CMS programs have diligently worked to ensure health equity for all and improve health outcomes for all Americans.
How do I navigate CMS?
The CMS website offers several resources and may seem overwhelming at first. However, the site has a relatively easy layout to explore different government assistance programs. Upon reaching the homepage, users can navigate through multiple dropdown menus for Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, Marketplace & Private Insurance, Priorities, and Training & Education. Each dropdown menu provides links to various components of these programs, such as coverage, enrollment/renewal, regulations & guidance, along with direct links to the websites of each program. The CMS website serves as the primary hub for all these services, making it simple to connect with government assistance.
How do I qualify for CMS services?
The CMS serves as the primary federal agency for Medicare, Medicaid, and other governmental programs, acting as a useful reference point for understanding the requirements of each program.
Medicare is a healthcare coverage program for people 65 years and older. It is also available to people with disabilities and those who have specific end-stage diseases. The program is split into four parts: A, B, C, and D.
- Part A covers inpatient hospitals, hospice, skilled nursing, and home services.
- Part B handles preventive care, physicians, outpatient, and laboratory services.
- Part C combines elements of both Part A and Part B.
- Part D covers prescription medications.
Medicaid is a government assistance program that provides healthcare coverage to low-income individuals. Medicaid beneficiaries can use it to help pay for hospital stays, doctor visits, long-term medical care, etc.
To find information about Medicare or Medicaid, simply click the Medicare tab at the top left corner, go to Enrollment and Renewal, and then select Medicare-Medicaid Enrollee Categories to view a document detailing all the requirements for these programs and their costs.
The CMS is a great resource for those unsure of which program works best for them because it contains the major government-assisted healthcare programs. Through its easy-to-navigate website, anyone can access the services and have their questions answered regarding each program. This guide can serve as a first step in accessing Medicare, Medicaid, and other valuable resources, despite the initially overwhelming amount of information it presents.
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By: Coco Parrick
Senior Care Advising Intern at WellPath Partners
Health Science Student, California State University, Long Beach
