Page "Medicaid" Paragraph 2

Beginning in the 1990s, many states received waivers from the federal government to create Medicaid managed care programs.

Under managed care, Medicaid recipients are enrolled in a private health plan, which receives a fixed monthly premium from the state.

The health plan is then responsible for providing for all or most of the recipient's healthcare needs.

Today, all but a few states use managed care to provide coverage to a significant proportion of Medicaid enrollees.

Nationwide, roughly 60 % of enrollees are enrolled in managed care plans.

Some 43 million Americans were enrolled in 2004 ( 19. 7 million of them children ) at a total cost of $ 295 billion.

In 2008, Medicaid provided health coverage and services to approximately 49 million low-income children, pregnant women, elderly people, and disabled people.

Federal Medicaid outlays were estimated to be $ 204 billion in 2008.