This document allows you to appoint a person to be your representative for purposes of making medical decisions for you at any time you are unable to make them yourself. Many states have a statutory form for this power of attorney. Medicare is a federally-funded assistance program. You become eligible because of your age. Financial need is not a factor.
Benefits are limited.
Medicaid is an assistance program funded by both federal and state agencies. You are eligible if your income and resources fall below a specified level. H istorically, the generous benefits of Medicaid made it advantageous to qualify. Many people who wanted to apply, however, found it difficult to give up their hard-earned assets in order to qualify for Medicaid. Therefore, they tried to go around the system, often by transferring property to family members.