Because private health insurance is beyond the means of many Americans to afford, the government provides several forms of public health insurance. The most well known of these programs are Medicaid and Medicare, insurance money provided to the states to administer to families with a lower income, needy children, and senior citizens.

Although the federal government provides most of the money and a set of general guidelines for these programs, it is up to each state to provide its portion of the money, administer the funds, and run the programs. This is the reason for some variation of standards and practices from state to state.

Medicaid is the public health insurance program created to serve those who are disabled or who have such a low income that they meet the state criteria set for eligibility. Currently, over thirty-five million people receive some type of assistance through this public health insurance program. At one point in time, people with disabilities would lose this insurance coverage if they took a job. In 1999, however, Congress passed a law that allows these working individuals to purchase health coverage through Medicaid.

» Read more: Healthcare: Compassion in Action