Money & budgets
Medicaid
Joint federal and state health coverage for people with low incomes. States run their programs within federal rules, so eligibility differs by state.
In full
The federal government matches state spending at a rate that varies by state and by population, which is why a state's decision to expand eligibility carries very different budget consequences than a comparable state program. NFIB v. Sebelius (2012) held that Congress could offer the expansion but could not threaten a state's existing funding to force it.
Where to go next
Keep going
Browse every term in the glossary, or see the vocabulary in motion in the How government works walkthroughs.
A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.