Which act addressed health coverage for low-income individuals?

• A. Medicaid Act
• B. Medicare Act
• C. Civil Rights Act
• D. Clean Water Act

Answer: (A)

Medicaid established health coverage for low-income individuals by creating a joint federal–state program that provides medical assistance to eligible low-income people. Passed as part of the Social Security Amendments of 1965, it is funded with federal matching funds and administered by the states, with eligibility determined at the state level but guided by federal rules. This program covers groups such as low-income children, pregnant women, certain disabled individuals, and elderly people who need long-term care.

Medicare, by contrast, is a separate program that provides health coverage for most people aged 65 and older (and some younger people with disabilities), not tied specifically to income level. The Civil Rights Act focuses on prohibiting discrimination, and the Clean Water Act targets environmental pollution, not health insurance.