Healthcare can be expensive and has caused many people to forego the medical attention they desperately need. Fortunately, Texas Medicaid is an option for many lower income Texas residents. Texas Medicaid provides low-cost healthcare for those who are eligible. To qualify for Texas Medicaid, you must:
- Meet annual household income requirements: The amount of household income (before taxes) must not exceed the amount listed for the number of people in your household in the ‘Annual Household Income Limits (before taxes)’ table. For example, the income limit before taxes for a household of four people is $52,470 before taxes.
- Meet residency requirements: You must be a Texas resident and U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen.
- Belong to one of five categories: To be eligible for Medicaid, you must be pregnant, 65 years of age or older, caretaker for a child 18 years of age or younger, or blind, or have a disability or live with someone with a disability.
Medicaid provides eligible persons with annual checkups, hospital care, medications, vaccines, vision and hearing care, access to medical specialists, and more. The specific of coverage you receive will depend on which of the five types of Medicaid you have.
Medicaid and long term care planning
In addition to the above benefits, Medicaid can help cover the costs of long-term care, such as nursing homes. With the cost of long-term care rising quickly, this can be a major concern for many Texans as they, and their family members get older. Because Medicaid eligibility is means-based, many people who cannot afford long-term care may find that they are nonetheless ineligible for Medicaid.
Estate planning attorneys often work with clients to create ways around this problem. Using trusts and other devices, they can often work out ways to maintain a client’s eligibility for Medicaid without completely losing access to their assets.
