Medicaid is a federally subsidized program that provides assistance to low-income individuals and families to help with medical expenses including medications and doctor and hospital visits. Special programs are available for women, children, the elderly and the disabled. In Texas, the program is administered by the the state Heath and Human Services Commission. The department uses digital technology to expedite verification of an individual's Medicaid eligibility and to access their Medicaid health history. A card with a magnetic strip is issued to each qualified recipient.
Assemble documentation to support your claim for Medicaid eligibility. You will need proof of identity such as a passport, birth certificate, Social Security card and driver's license or other acceptable form of photo ID. Applicants must show proof of income and earnings. You may use pay stubs, copies of checks or tax records and bank statements. Proof of citizenship or alien status is required to be presented with the application.
Call or visit a local office of the state Department of Heath and Human Services. The department's staff offers bilingual counseling and answers questions by phone 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can also download an application for Medicaid assistance online at the department's website.
Request a renewal of your previous Medicaid card. If you old card is out of date, a new application must be submitted. In June 2011, the state Health and Human Services Commission began issuing new Medicaid cards. A magnetic-strip card will replace current paper Medicaid ID (Form 3087). The new cards were to be sent to all Texas Medicaid recipients by August 2011. If you have lost your paper card or do not receive a replacement card by the end of August, contact the state Department of Health and Human Services.
Tips
In Texas, the Children’s Medicaid program provides healthcare for children under 19 years old whose families have limited financial resources. The program provides six months of coverage. Newborn babies are automatically covered for 12 months if the mother was already enrolled in the Texas Medicaid program. Prior to the end of each six-month period, a renewal application is mailed to the family. Children with special medical needs, including chronic illness or a disability or mental retardation, may be eligible for additional benefits including long-term care services, home or vehicle modifications, hospice care, special equipment or mental health services.
Tips
- In Texas, the Children’s Medicaid program provides healthcare for children under 19 years old whose families have limited financial resources. The program provides six months of coverage. Newborn babies are automatically covered for 12 months if the mother was already enrolled in the Texas Medicaid program. Prior to the end of each six-month period, a renewal application is mailed to the family. Children with special medical needs, including chronic illness or a disability or mental retardation, may be eligible for additional benefits including long-term care services, home or vehicle modifications, hospice care, special equipment or mental health services.
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A passionate writer for more than 30 years, Marlene Affeld writes of her love of all things natural. Affeld's passion for the environment inspires her to write informative articles to assist others in living a green lifestyle. She writes for a prominent website as a nature travel writer and contributes articles to other online outlets covering wildlife, travel destinations and the beauty of nature.