public health insurance
(PUH-blik helth in-SHOOR-ents)
A program run by U.S. federal, state, or local governments in which people have some or all of their health care costs paid for by the government. The two main types of public health insurance are Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people aged 65 years or older and people with certain disabilities. Medicaid is a public health insurance program for some individuals and families with a low income or disabilities.