MEDI-CAL AND TRICARE - Essay Example

s is that Medi-Cal provides free medical care or share costs to all the individuals eligible, while Tricare guarantees free of charge care only to active duty military members and their families and only under one of the program types (Tricare Prime), whereas the rest have to pay a certain part of cost for the medical care. The history of both Medi-Cal and Tricare started in 1966. In July 1965, two major amendments to the Social Security Act expanded medical coverage to a wider range of population’s segments.

‘Title XVIII established the Medicare program, and Title XIX established the State-option medical assistance program known as Medicaid.’ Medi-Cal in California became effective in March 1966 (Medi-Cal Program). Though the idea of military medical care for the military men dates back to the late 1700s, little was done until the World War II, when Congress authorized the Emergency Maternal and Infant Care Program, covering wives and children of service members. Further steps were undertaken in 1956 as a result of the Korean conflict, when the Dependents Medical Care Act was signed into law.

CHAMPUS was created by the 1966 amendments to this act and became effective in 1967. TRICARE was the result of the “CHAMPUS Reform Initiative” (CRI), one of the projects launched in 1980s, aimed at improving access to top-quality care with cost staying under control. What distinguishes TRICARE from the earlier programs is the provision of choice of ways in which service families may use their military health care benefits (Powers 2007). One is eligible for Medi-Cal benefits if he is 65 years or older, or he is blind, or is younger than 65 but has a disability.

Those receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) get Medi-Cal benefits automatically. Those who don’t receive SSI can still qualify for Medi-Cal as long as their income and assets are under certain amounts. Eligiblity for Medi-Cal through SSI is available in case your monthly income doesn’t exceed