Qualify for Medicaid
Medicaid is a nationwide health plan open to individuals and families below a certain income level. Even though it receives its funds from both the federal government and the individual states, the actual administration of the program is left to the states. This has led to different entitlement thresholds for participation in this health scheme. If you are a recent transplant to the Lone Star State, it is important to learn qualify for Medicaid in Texas, even if you are well versed with the eligibility criteria of other states. Moreover, since Texas operates several different Medicaid subplans, this knowledge is vital.
Instructions
1. Gather documents that will prove your identity and eligibility for the Texas Medicaid program. You need an ID card or driver’s license, social security number and—if applicable--immigration paperwork that proves your lawful admission to the United States. Additionally, find paystubs, bank statements and also have information about your car’s current value on hand. These are required across the board for all parts of the Texas Medicaid plan.
2. Fit into one of the groups served by the Texas Medicaid program. These groups are children for whom no medical care can be afforded, children and their families if the combined household income falls below a certain limit, women who are pregnant and have already incurred a lot of debt due to medical bills and non-citizens requiring emergency medical care. SSI and TANF recipients are automatically eligible for Medicaid in Texas.
3. Identify the sub-program of the Texas Medicaid plan that applies to your specific needs. The programs most commonly chosen are CHIP of Children Medicaid, the Women’s Health Program, the STAR Medicaid Managed Care Program and the STAR Plus program.
4. Opt for CHIP or the Children’s Medicaid Program if you are seeking to insure children younger than 18 without also applying for coverage for yourself. Your children qualify if they are legal residents of the State of Texas, younger than 18 and if the family meets the annual income eligibility requirement. For children’s Medicaid, the annual income for a family of four must not exceed $20,650 while for CHIP it needs to be below $41,300.
5. Pick the Women’s Health Program if you are a female Texan resident between the ages of 18 and 44, are not expecting a child and do not concurrently receive other Medicaid plan coverage. Moreover, a family of four must not bring in more than $3,269 per month.
6. Learn if you are required to enroll in the STAR Medicaid Managed Care Program. This program applies to those Texans who live in the areas of Dallas, Bexar, Harris, El Paso, Tarrant, Travis and others. Income limitations are the same as apply to recipients of TANF.
7. Fill out an application for the STAR Plus program if you qualify for Medicaid by virtue of being disabled and concurrently qualifying for SSI. It is noteworthy that you fail to qualify if you currently reside in a nursing home or other assisted living facility.
