Medicaid - Statistics & Facts

Since its creation in 1965, Medicaid has become the largest source of medical and health-related services for U.S. Americans with a low income and limited resources. Unlike Medicare, which is a federal run and funded program, Medicaid is funded by both federal and state governments but is run by individual states following federal guidelines. According to estimates of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), over 84 million people were enrolled in Medicaid in 2021. The distribution of Medicaid enrollees by eligibility group shows that 36.9 percent are children. Other groups include adults and newly eligible adults (under Medicaid expansion), disabled, and the elderly. While disabled persons make up only 11.4 percent of all Medicaid enrollees, their share of Medicaid expenditures is by far the largest.

Medicaid expenditures

As the percentage of people under Medicaid has grown over the last decade, Medicaid spending has also increased. In 2019, Medicaid expenditures reached nearly 640 billion U.S. dollars for the first time, with the federal share some 150 billion dollars higher than the state funds. The program's costs accounted for around 19 percent of all U.S. health expenditures in 2022. Among all U.S. states, California has the highest Medicaid spending, followed by New York, Texas, and Pennsylvania. Medicaid covered nearly 58 percent of residential and personal care, while almost one fifth of total U.S. hospital costs was paid by Medicaid.

CHIP – Children’s health insurance program

The Children’s health insurance program (CHIP) was introduced in 1997 to provide low-cost health coverage for children (18 years and younger) in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to buy private health insurance. According to federal requirements, CHIP is administered by states and therefore eligibility limits for CHIP differ by state as well. Like Medicaid, CHIP is also jointly funded by states and the federal government, however at a higher matching rate to encourage state participation. Unlike Medicaid though, several states require premium contribution or enrollment fees, or other cost-sharing for the use of health services.

Medicaid and the ACA

With the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid’s role within U.S. health care has become even more prominent. From 2014, the federal health care law implemented a substantial increase in Medicaid eligibility and was reflected in the largest enrollment growth in the past three decades. However, unlike the mandatory Medicaid expansion the health reform envisioned, expanding Medicaid was a decision left for each state. Currently, 12 states have yet to expand Medicaid leaving an estimated 2.2 million uninsured in the "coverage gap". In 2021, the COVID-19 relief bill, otherwise known as the American Rescue Plan offered even more incentives to these holdout states to expand Medicaid, especially during an international health crisis. However, so far, all 12 of these mostly Southern states are still refusing.

This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.

Medicaid's share of U.S. health care expenditure: 18%

Percentage of U.S. Americans covered by Medicaid: 18.8%

Medicaid income eligibility limits for parents in expansion vs non-expansion states: 138% vs 40% FPL

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Percentage of people covered by Medicaid in the United States from 1990 to 2022

Public Health Programs

Percentage of U.S. Americans covered by Medicaid 1990-2022

Number of children enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP as of October 2023, by U.S. state

Public Health Programs

Medicaid and CHIP child enrollee numbers October 2023, by state

Projected total Medicaid enrollment from 2020 to 2027 (in millions)

Public Health Programs

Projected total Medicaid enrollment 2020-2027

Overview

Premium Statistic U.S. health care expenditure distribution by payer 2015-2023
U.S. health care expenditure distribution by payer 2015-2023
Distribution of U.S. health care expenditure from 2015 to 2023, by payer
Premium Statistic Change in total Medicaid spending and enrollment 1998-2024
Change in total Medicaid spending and enrollment 1998-2024
Change in total Medicaid spending and enrollment from 1998 to 2024
Premium Statistic Percentage of U.S. Americans covered by Medicaid 1990-2022
Percentage of U.S. Americans covered by Medicaid 1990-2022
Percentage of people covered by Medicaid in the United States from 1990 to 2022
Premium Statistic Medicaid enrollment and expenditure by enrollment group 2021
Medicaid enrollment and expenditure by enrollment group 2021
Distribution of Medicaid enrollment and expenditure in FY 2021, by enrollment group

Enrollment

Premium Statistic Medicaid and CHIP enrollee numbers April 2023, by state
Medicaid and CHIP enrollee numbers April 2023, by state
Total number of Medicaid and CHIP enrollees as of April 2023, by state
Premium Statistic Total Medicaid enrollment 1966-2022
Total Medicaid enrollment 1966-2022
Total Medicaid enrollment from 1966 to 2022 (in millions)
Basic Statistic Distribution of Medicaid/CHIP enrollees 2022, by ethnicity
Distribution of Medicaid/CHIP enrollees 2022, by ethnicity
Distribution of Medicaid/CHIP enrollees in the United States in 2022, by ethnicity
Premium Statistic Medicaid eligible population without health insurance in the U.S. 2022, by ethnicity
Medicaid eligible population without health insurance in the U.S. 2022, by ethnicity
Distribution of uninsured nonelderly population eligible for Medicaid and CHIP in the United States in 2022, by ethnicity
Basic Statistic Medicaid/CHIP enrollment distribution by age 2022
Medicaid/CHIP enrollment distribution by age 2022
Distribution of Medicaid/CHIP enrollment in 2022, by age

Expenditures

Basic Statistic Total Medicaid expenditure 1975-2022
Total Medicaid expenditure 1975-2022
Total Medicaid expenditure from 1975 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)
Basic Statistic Medicaid federal and state expenditure in the U.S. FY2022, by state
Medicaid federal and state expenditure in the U.S. FY2022, by state
Medicaid spending in the United States in FY2022, by state and state and federal share (in million U.S. dollars)
Premium Statistic Medicaid spending as a percent of total U.S. health expenditure by service 2022
Medicaid spending as a percent of total U.S. health expenditure by service 2022
Medicaid expenditure as a percentage of total U.S. health expenditure in 2022, by service category*
Premium Statistic Medicaid long-term care services expenditures in the U.S. 1990-2022
Medicaid long-term care services expenditures in the U.S. 1990-2022
Medicaid long-term care services expenditures in the United States from FY 1990 to FY 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)
Basic Statistic Medicaid spending per FYE enrollee U.S. FY 2021, by eligibility group
Medicaid spending per FYE enrollee U.S. FY 2021, by eligibility group
Medicaid benefit spending per full-year equivalent (FYE) enrollee in the United States in FY 2021, by eligibility group
Basic Statistic Medicaid spending per FYE enrollee U.S. FY 2021, by state
Medicaid spending per FYE enrollee U.S. FY 2021, by state
Medicaid benefit spending per full-year equivalent (FYE) enrollee in the United States in FY 2021, by state
Basic Statistic Medicaid long-term care services expenditures by type of service 1990-21
Medicaid long-term care services expenditures by type of service 1990-21
Distribution of Medicaid long-term care services expenditures from FY 1990 to FY 2021, by type of service
Premium Statistic Change in total Medicaid spending and enrollment 1998-2024
Change in total Medicaid spending and enrollment 1998-2024
Change in total Medicaid spending and enrollment from 1998 to 2024

Spending by services of selected U.S. states

Basic Statistic Distribution of Medicaid: spending in New Jersey by service 2022
Distribution of Medicaid: spending in New Jersey by service 2022
Distribution of Medicaid spending in New Jersey in 2022, by service
Basic Statistic Distribution of Medicaid: spending in California by service 2022
Distribution of Medicaid: spending in California by service 2022
Distribution of Medicaid spending in California in 2022, by service
Basic Statistic Distribution of Medicaid: spending in Georgia, by service 2022
Distribution of Medicaid: spending in Georgia, by service 2022
Distribution of Medicaid spending in Georgia in 2022, by service

CHIP - Children’s Health Insurance Program

Premium Statistic Medicaid and CHIP child enrollee numbers October 2023, by state
Medicaid and CHIP child enrollee numbers October 2023, by state
Number of children enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP as of October 2023, by U.S. state
Basic Statistic Median Medicaid/CHIP eligibility threshold January 2023
Median Medicaid/CHIP eligibility threshold January 2023
Median Medicaid/CHIP income eligibility threshold as of January 2023
Basic Statistic Medicaid/CHIP income eligibility limits for children as of Jan 2023, by state and age
Medicaid/CHIP income eligibility limits for children as of Jan 2023, by state and age
Medicaid/CHIP income eligibility limits for children as a percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) as of January 2023, by state and age
Premium Statistic CHIP enrollment number 1999-2022
CHIP enrollment number 1999-2022
Number of CHIP enrollees from 1999 to 2022 (in million)
Basic Statistic CHIP health expenditure 2000-2022
CHIP health expenditure 2000-2022
Children's health insurance program (CHIP) health consumption expenditure from 2000 to 2022 (in million U.S. dollars)
Basic Statistic CHIP spending in the U.S. FY 2021, by state
CHIP spending in the U.S. FY 2021, by state
CHIP spending in the United States in FY 2021, by state and state & federal share (in million U.S. dollars)

Medicaid unwinding

Premium Statistic Number of Medicaid enrollees disenrolled in the U.S. in 2024, by state
Number of Medicaid enrollees disenrolled in the U.S. in 2024, by state
Total number of Medicaid enrollees disenrolled in the U.S. as of April 2024, by state
Premium Statistic Types of problems encountered during Medicaid renewal process in the U.S. in 2023
Types of problems encountered during Medicaid renewal process in the U.S. in 2023
Which of the following problems, if any, did you experience when attempting to renew your Medicaid coverage?
Premium Statistic Opinion on current insurance compared to Medicaid in the U.S. in 2024
Opinion on current insurance compared to Medicaid in the U.S. in 2024
Distribution of opinion on selected features of current health coverage among people who previously had Medicaid in the United States in 2024
Premium Statistic Reasons enrollees who lost Medicaid are uninsured in the U.S. in 2024
Reasons enrollees who lost Medicaid are uninsured in the U.S. in 2024
Share of reasons Medicaid enrollees who lost their coverage gave for staying uninsured in the U.S. in 2024
Premium Statistic Impact of Medicaid disenrollment on patients at CHCs in the U.S. in 2024
Impact of Medicaid disenrollment on patients at CHCs in the U.S. in 2024
Impact of Medicaid disenrollment on patients taking treatment at community health centers (CHCs) in the U.S. in 2024
Premium Statistic Types of barriers CHCs patients experienced for Medicaid renewal in the U.S. 2024
Types of barriers CHCs patients experienced for Medicaid renewal in the U.S. 2024
Share of types of barriers community health centers (CHCs) reported their patients faced during Medicaid renewal in the U.S. in 2024

Medicaid fraud

Basic Statistic Provider types with highest number of convictions for fraud under Medicaid 2023
Provider types with highest number of convictions for fraud under Medicaid 2023
Provider types with the highest number of convictions for fraud under Medicaid in FY 2023
Basic Statistic Provider types with high number of convictions for abuse/neglect under Medicaid 2023
Provider types with high number of convictions for abuse/neglect under Medicaid 2023
Provider types with the highest number of convictions for abuse or neglect under Medicaid in FY 2023
Basic Statistic Civil recoveries paid from fraud and abuse cases under Medicaid 2012-2023
Civil recoveries paid from fraud and abuse cases under Medicaid 2012-2023
Civil recoveries paid regarding fraud and abuse/neglect cases under Medicaid from FY 2012 to FY 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)
Basic Statistic Recoveries and expenditures from fraud cases under Medicaid 2023
Recoveries and expenditures from fraud cases under Medicaid 2023
Recoveries and expenditures regarding fraud cases under Medicaid in FY 2023, by type (in million U.S. dollars)*

Outlook

Premium Statistic Projected total Medicaid enrollment 2020-2027
Projected total Medicaid enrollment 2020-2027
Projected total Medicaid enrollment from 2020 to 2027 (in millions)
Premium Statistic Projected total Medicaid expenditure 2020-2027
Projected total Medicaid expenditure 2020-2027
Projected total Medicaid expenditure from 2020 to 2027 (in billion U.S. dollars)
Basic Statistic Projected total Medicaid federal and state expenditures 2020-2027
Projected total Medicaid federal and state expenditures 2020-2027
Projected total Medicaid federal and state expenditures from 2020 to 2027 (in billion U.S. dollars)

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Key figures

The most important key figures provide you with a compact summary of the topic of "Medicaid" and take you straight to the corresponding statistics.

Total Medicaid enrollment
90.8m
Detailed statistics
Total Medicaid enrollment 1966-2022
Percentage of Medicaid/CHIP enrollees that are children
49%
Detailed statistics
Medicaid/CHIP enrollment distribution by eligibility group 2020
Percentage of Medicaid/CHIP enrollees that are Black
20%
Detailed statistics
Distribution of Medicaid/CHIP enrollees 2022, by ethnicity

Total Medicaid expenditure in 2022
824bn USD
Detailed statistics
Total Medicaid expenditure 1975-2022
Total federal Medicaid expenditures in 2019
399.4bn USD
Detailed statistics
Total Medicaid federal and state expenditures in the U.S. 1966-2019
The state of California has the highest Medicaid expenditure
119bn USD
Detailed statistics
U.S. states with the highest Medicaid expenditure 2022
Medicaid share of total U.S. residential and personal care expenditure
58%
Detailed statistics
Medicaid spending as a percent of total U.S. health expenditure by service 2022

Number of CHIP enrollees
7.2 million
Detailed statistics
CHIP enrollment number 1999-2022
CHIP health expenditure in 2021
22.2bn USD
Detailed statistics
CHIP health expenditure 2000-2022
Number of U.S. states with CHIP premium/enrollment fees
26 states
Detailed statistics
Number of U.S. states with Medicaid/CHIP cost sharing requirements for children 2020

Provider with highest number of fraud convictions under Medicaid
Personal care services attendants
Detailed statistics
Provider types with highest number of convictions for fraud under Medicaid 2023
Provider with highest number of abuse/neglect convictions under Medicaid in FY2021
Nurse's aid
Detailed statistics
Money returned to private persons due to health care fraud in the U.S. 2012-2021
Recoveries of Medicaid fraud cases
1.2bn USD
Detailed statistics
Recoveries and expenditures from fraud cases under Medicaid 2023

Projected Medicaid enrollment in 2024
80m
Detailed statistics
Projected total Medicaid enrollment 2020-2027
Projected Medicaid expenditure in 2024
839.6bn USD
Detailed statistics
Projected total Medicaid expenditure 2020-2027