CleverDings Plain comparisons of household help apps

Medicaid.gov alternatives in 2026

Compare Medicaid.gov alternatives for a household: BenefitsCheckUp, mRelief, Benefit Buddy, Propel, findhelp and HealthCare.gov, with what each one does.

By CleverDings ยท

CleverDings is published by the makers of Benefit Buddy, Postal Buddy and Packing Buddy, which are compared here alongside other apps.

Medicaid.gov is run by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which implements Medicaid, CHIP, and the Basic Health Program. If you want something narrower, BenefitsCheckUp connects older adults and people with disabilities to programs [1], and Benefit Buddy takes a few sentences about your household [2].

OptionWhat it doesCost
Medicaid.govFederal agency site for Medicaid, CHIP, and Basic Health Program laws and programs [3]not published
BenefitsCheckUpFinds programs for older adults and people with disabilities [1]Free tool [1]
mReliefHelps people sign up for food stamps [4]not published
Benefit BuddyFinds benefits from a household description [2]Finding benefits is free; Plus costs $4.99 a month [2]
PropelChecks EBT balances [5]Free app [5]
findhelpFinds food, housing and health care resources [6]not published

Why people running a household look past Medicaid.gov

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is responsible for implementing laws passed by Congress related to Medicaid, CHIP, and the Basic Health Program [3].

The site also publishes a monthly data report with preliminary state Medicaid and CHIP eligibility and enrollment data [7]. The available facts describe a federal policy and data hub, and they do not show whether it takes your household details and tells you what you qualify for.

The facts available here do not say it walks a household through its own eligibility. A reader may still want a tool built around one group or one program, or one that also covers things outside government health programs.

Before you compare, check a few things on the official site itself:

Medicaid.gov: the federal agency site for program information

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is responsible for implementing laws passed by Congress related to Medicaid, CHIP, and the Basic Health Program [3]. It also publishes a monthly data report with preliminary state Medicaid and CHIP eligibility and enrollment data [7].

BenefitsCheckUp: connects older adults and people with disabilities to programs

BenefitsCheckUp connects older adults and people with disabilities to programs that can help with daily expenses, health, and independence [1]. It provides a free tool to find programs and learn how to apply online [1].

It says the eligibility process is free and confidential and that no personal information is shared [1].

mRelief: helps people sign up for food stamps

mRelief is a nonprofit that helps people sign up for food stamps [4]. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit [4].

It offers an eligibility screener that can be completed online or by text [4]. If you are likely eligible for SNAP, it shows you the best way to apply [4]. mRelief says it has served 5,743,496 individuals [4] and $2,275,610,563 in SNAP benefits [4].

Benefit Buddy: finds benefits from a few sentences about your household

Benefit Buddy is made by the team that publishes this site. You tell it about your household in a few sentences and answer a few questions [2]. It covers programs like SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP and WIC, plus your state's versions under their own names [2].

For each benefit it says whether you qualify, what step is in the way, or which question would settle it [2]. It also lists perks you may already have through your health plan, insurance, credit cards and job [2]. You can tick benefits off as you use them or dismiss ones you don't want [2].

You can add a document such as a tax return, W-2, 1099, IRS transcript or DD-214 instead of writing [2]. You can name your Medicare Advantage plan to see its extras, with dollar amounts the plan states [2]. It lists FEMA disaster declarations with Individual Assistance by county, with sign-up deadlines, daily [2].

You can try a shared demo account without signing in; it resets every day [2]. Finding benefits is free for everyone, signed in or not [2].

Propel: a free app for checking EBT balances

Propel offers a free app for checking EBT balances and accessing benefits tools [5]. It says the app is completely free to use [5]. It says the app offers balance checking in 49 states, the District of Columbia, and several U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam [5].

If you already receive EBT benefits, check on its page that your state is supported.

findhelp: local resources for food, housing and health care

Findhelp has resources for food pantries and meal programs, and you can also find housing, financial assistance, and health care [6].

Check what resources are listed near you.

How to pick the right Medicaid.gov alternative

Match the tool to your situation.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is responsible for implementing laws passed by Congress related to Medicaid, CHIP, and the Basic Health Program [3].

Frequently asked questions

What is Medicaid.gov?

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is responsible for implementing laws passed by Congress related to Medicaid, CHIP, and the Basic Health Program [3]. The available facts here cover its role in implementing those programs and its eligibility and enrollment data reports [7].

Is there a free alternative to Medicaid.gov?

BenefitsCheckUp provides a free tool to find programs and learn how to apply online [1]. The Propel app is completely free to use [5]. With Benefit Buddy, finding benefits is free for everyone, signed in or not [2].

Which benefits tool helps with food stamps?

Benefit Buddy covers SNAP, along with Medicaid, CHIP and WIC [2]. mRelief is a nonprofit that helps people sign up for food stamps and offers a screener online or by text [4] [4]. Check that your state is covered, and compare what each tool asks you before you share details about your household.

Can you talk to a person about benefits instead of using a form?

BenefitsCheckUp provides a free tool to find programs and learn how to apply online [1]. For whether it offers a person to talk to by chat or phone, check its own page, since the facts available here do not cover that.

Does Benefit Buddy cost anything?

Finding benefits is free; Plus costs $4.99 a month [2]. You can also try a shared demo account without signing in, and it resets every day [2]. Finding benefits is free; Plus costs $4.99 a month [2].

Finding benefits is free; Plus costs $4.99 a month. [2]

Try Benefit Buddy

Sources

  1. BenefitsCheckUp, benefitscheckup.org, read 2026-10-07
  2. Benefit Buddy's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  3. Medicaid.gov, medicaid.gov/medicaid/eligibility/index.html, read 2026-10-09
  4. mRelief, mrelief.com, read 2026-10-07
  5. Propel, propel.app, read 2026-10-07
  6. findhelp, findhelp.org, read 2026-10-07
  7. Medicaid.gov, medicaid.gov, read 2026-10-09

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