Medical assistance program established in 1965 by Title XIX of the Social Security Act that is jointly funded by the federal government and the states. It provides medical benefits for certain low-income persons in need of health and medical care. Recipients’ benefits, data for claims processing, and payments vary from state to state. Medicaid is jointly funded by the federal and state governments to assist states in providing long-term care assistance to people who meet certain eligibility criteria. California’s Medicaid program is known as Medi-Cal .