Ensuring that the poor receive quality health care has long been a priority in the United States. Medicaid is one program designed by the federal government to meet this need. Medicaid provides medical care to the poor, to children and to pregnant women living under the federal poverty level. It is funded jointly by the states and the federal government.

Medicaid was established in 1965, at the same time as Medicare, under Title XIX of the Social Security Act. It was designed to assist low-income families in providing health care for themselves and their children. It also covers certain individuals who fall below the federal poverty level. It covers hospital and doctor's visits, prenatal care, emergency room visits, drugs and other treatments.

Other people who are eligible for Medicaid include low-income children under age 6, low-income pregnant women, Supplemental Security Income recipients, adopted or foster children, specially protected groups, children under age 19 whose family income is below federal poverty level, some Medicare beneficiaries and other groups, as determined by each state. Most families who receive welfare probably have a social worker assigned to them, and this person will usually advise a family on its Medicaid eligibility. Many doctors will also be able to inform their patients about Medicaid.

Medicaid is another of those thorny issues Congress perpetually faces. The program is astronomically expensive. However, if funding for the program were cut, many people, including children, would be without basic medical care. It's a political tightrope.

While perhaps not as Byzantine in construction as Medicare, determining Medicaid eligibility, in particular, is still tricky. Anyone feeling he or she may be eligible for Medicaid can contact the local department of human resources or the Internet for more information. Medicaid.gov is the official Web site and includes a wealth of information, as well as a toll-free number. As is the case when dealing with most federal programs, people are well-advised to seek out professional assistance and get as much information as possible about the program in order to receive the maximum benefit.