Think You Don’t Have Medicaid? You Might Be Wrong

Nearly half of state Medicaid programs go by different names, making it confusing for enrollees trying to stay ahead of upcoming changes

Molly Snow,

AARP

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En español

Published July 17, 2025

medicaid in a search box with different names flashing

AARP (Getty Images)

Husky Health. TennCare. Healthy Connections. MaineCare.

These names have something in common: They all mean “Medicaid.” And if you didn’t know that, you’re not the only one.

Following cuts to the Medicaid program included in President Trump’s sweeping domestic policy and tax bill, which was signed into law on July 4, many older adults now face the difficult task of keeping up with the changes.

That attention has spotlighted the various ways states refer to the program that provides health care coverage to more than 17 million low-income adults 50 and older.

Medicaid is funded jointly by federal and state governments, and every state has the authority to set eligibility and coverage guidelines for enrollees.

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Some states have put their own spin on the name to help differentiate their program from 49 others. Others made a name change in an effort to reduce stigma often associated with federal assistance.

The same in all but name

About 20 state programs use a unique name to refer to their Medicaid program, according to an AARP review of data from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and state websites.

In states with managed care systems — where companies are contracted to deliver Medicaid services — these programs may also be known by different names.

In Texas, for example, one is called STAR+PLUS, which is the state’s Medicaid managed care program for adults with disabilities or those 65 and older.

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Some have said the various naming conventions, which range from cute to clunky, may lead to confusion for those who don’t realize they’re synonymous with Medicaid.

Kim Eldridge has worked for years as a health care consultant in Indiana. She says she encounters these misunderstandings “constantly.”

“While I understand sometimes why [states] do it, it just makes it hard to get the point across to people that they actually have Medicaid,” Eldridge says. “So many of them look at these different names and are convinced that it is not Medicaid.”

With significant changes coming to the Medicaid program as early as 2026, advocates say it’s especially important for beneficiaries to identify how the shifting policy landscape impacts them.

“We’ve seen that when the name on the card doesn’t match what people hear in the news, they may assume it doesn’t apply to them — and that can mean missing out on critical care or help paying for prescriptions,” says Gidget Benitez, AARP’s government affairs director for Medicaid and prescription drugs. “Clear, consistent information is key to helping people understand what they’re eligible for, and how conversations in Congress affect them.”

Accounting for public perception

Though advocates have pointed to the different names as a source of confusion, the intentions behind renaming Medicaid programs seem benign.

For one, special names for Medicaid that refer to a state mascot or aspect of the culture may imbue the program with better name recognition or trust. Different names may also help alleviate the stigma of participating in a social safety net, which can carry negative connotations and discourage enrollment when coupled with administrative hurdles.

States may also adopt a different name to signal to residents that they are investing their own resources in the program, making it feel like a home-state initiative as opposed to a federal mandate, says Michael Guerrero, CEO of Eldercare Resource Planning.

“[States] want to make sure they're highlighting the fact that it’s state funds that are being contributed, even though it's a cost share between the federal government,” Guerrero says. “They want to make sure that their contributions are being recognized by their constituents.”

But as to whether those aims have been achieved, experts say it’s hard to measure.

A 2024 survey by Duke University looked at whether using state-specific naming conventions would make Medicaid more popular, especially among groups that tend to look unfavorably on federal assistance programs.

The report found that when using a state-specific name, people were more likely to say they didn’t know enough to have an opinion, positive or negative.

That suggests using state-branded names “may muddle understanding of the program as a government-provided benefit,” according to the report.

Some may also refer to Medicaid by the insurance companies that contract with Medicaid, sometimes creating the illusion that individuals have private insurance, Eldridge says.

Challenges for public health messaging

In Indiana, Eldridge says she feels more could be done to help educate enrollees and applicants on the complexities of Medicaid, especially as eligibility and coverage are expected to undergo major changes under the new legislation.

She’s concerned that a lack of timely outreach could result in fewer enrollments, leaving some who would otherwise benefit from Medicaid without services. In the meantime, the federal government's guidance on implementing some of these changes is anticipated next summer.

This leaves states limited time to craft messaging strategies, as changes to work requirements, eligibility checks and retroactive coverage could be implemented within the next few years.

“I think now would be the time to start doing focus groups and thinking through the best ways of messaging,” says Adrianna McIntyre, assistant professor at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, who worked on the Duke University study. “There is remarkably little research on the most effective ways to communicate with beneficiary populations.”

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Molly Snow is a writer for AARP covering advocacy issues and state news. She also writes AARP's Today's Tips podcast. She previously worked at other news outlets, including Federal Times, McClatchy and Gannett.

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