Everyone should have a co-pay, especially MediCaid recipients. Cuts down on gratuitous “over-utilization”.
Working MediCaid patients should be required to pay some level of premium. As more private sector options become available, the MediCaid premium should go up.
Most people have no clue how Medicaid works. I was an eligibility worker for MediCal in California. They have what is called a share of cost and their share of cost depends on income. It can be anywhere from $0 to thousands a month. Their share of cost must be paid before Medicaid covers the rest. The share of cost is monthly.
Example: X has a share of cost of $100 per month. If x goes to the doctor and the cost is $150 then X pays the first hundred and Medicaid pays the $50. If X goes to the doctor twice in the same month the 2nd visit will be paid 100% since the share of cost was paid on the first visit. On the first of the next month the share of cost again goes back to $150 and they start again.
There are no ‘monthly premiums’ for Medicaid but there may be a share of cost dependent on income. If the share of cost is $0 then the person pays nothing and Medicaid covers 100%.