a public health program through which certain medical and hospital expenses of those having no income, or a low income, are paid for from state and federal funds
Origin:
< medic(al) + aid
See Medicaid in American Heritage Dictionary 4
also med·i·caid
noun
A program in the United States, jointly funded by the states and the federal government, that reimburses hospitals and physicians for providing care to qualifying people who cannot finance their own medical expenses.