Categorical Entitlements

Overview

These programs are entitlement programs similar to Medicaid and Medicare in which fairly comprehensive health services are available to a categorically qualified population group. But they are different than insurance, since access to services depends on one’s proximity to facilities providing them and the capacity of such facilities to serve the population seeking care. These include Indian Health Services (available on Indian reservations), and four special populations served through federal community health centers and a variety of state/local/nonprofit programs: migrant health care, health care for the homeless, health care for public housing residents and health care for native Hawaiians.

• Indian Health Service (IHS)
• Migrant Health
• Homeless Health
• Public Housing Health
• Native Hawaiian Health