Texas Medicaid: Eligibility & How to Apply
Last updated: September 24, 2026 · By O.B.
In Texas, Medicaid is administered by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), providing free or low-cost health coverage to eligible residents including children, families, pregnant women, seniors, and people with disabilities.
What is Medicaid in Texas?
Texas Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that helps cover medical costs for people with limited income and resources. Many members receive care through STAR and other Medicaid managed care programs.
Who is eligible?
Texas Medicaid has separate income limits for children, pregnant women, and parents or caretaker relatives. The limits below are monthly household income before taxes, from Texas Health and Human Services' Texas Works Handbook, section C-131 (Revision 26-2, effective April 1, 2026). If your income is at or below the figure for your group and family size, you may qualify.
Income limits for children and pregnant women (effective April 1, 2026)
| Family size | Children 6–18 | Children 1–5 | Children under 1, and pregnant women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,769 | $1,916 | $2,634 |
| 2 | $2,399 | $2,597 | $3,571 |
| 3 | $3,028 | $3,279 | $4,508 |
| 4 | $3,658 | $3,960 | $5,445 |
| 5 | $4,288 | $4,642 | $6,383 |
| 6 | $4,917 | $5,324 | $7,320 |
| 7 | $5,547 | $6,005 | $8,257 |
| 8 | $6,176 | $6,687 | $9,194 |
| Each additional person | $630 | $682 | $938 |
These are 133%, 144% and 198% of the federal poverty level. Source: HHSC Texas Works Handbook C-131.1
If a child's family income is too high for Children's Medicaid, HHSC automatically checks whether the child can get CHIP instead.
Income limits for parents and caretaker relatives
A parent or relative can get Medicaid only if they care for a child who already has Medicaid and lives with them (the child must be 17 or younger, or 18 and in school full time). The income limits are much lower than for children:
| Family size | One parent | Two parents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $103 | — |
| 2 | $196 | $161 |
| 3 | $230 | $251 |
| 4 | $277 | $285 |
| 5 | $310 | $332 |
| 6 | $356 | $367 |
| 7 | $389 | $412 |
| 8 | $441 | $447 |
Source: HHSC Texas Works Handbook C-131.2 (effective October 1, 2015, still current) and HHSC's Medicaid for Parents and Caretakers page.
Example: a family of three
A single parent with two children, aged 4 and 9, has $2,000 a month in income. The 4-year-old's limit is $3,279 and the 9-year-old's is $3,028, so both children may qualify for Children's Medicaid. The parent's limit is $230 a month, so the parent is over it. In Texas, children often qualify at incomes far above the limit for their parents.
What does Medicaid cover?
- Doctor visits and preventive care
- Hospital and emergency services
- Prescription drugs
- Maternity and newborn care
- Mental health and substance use services
- Lab tests and X-rays
What we could not verify
- HHSC's Children's Medicaid (STAR) page shows a slightly lower chart than the handbook — for example $2,954 a month for a family of three, where the handbook chart effective April 1, 2026 shows $3,028. We publish the handbook chart because it carries an effective date. If your income falls between the two, apply: HHSC makes the decision.
- The handbook also lists a standard income disregard equal to five percentage points of the poverty level ($113.85 a month for a family of three). We have not verified exactly when HHSC applies it, so if you are slightly over a limit, apply anyway.
- Seniors and people with disabilities are assessed under a different handbook with different rules, which we have not summarized here. See HHSC's Medicaid for the Elderly and People with Disabilities Handbook, Appendix L.
- We did not find an HHSC Medicaid group for adults aged 19–64 who are not pregnant, not disabled and not caring for a child on Medicaid. If that describes you, HealthCare.gov is the place to check other coverage.
How to apply
- Online: Your Texas Benefits
- By phone: 2-1-1 (or 1-877-541-7905)
- In person: at a local Texas office
- Federal Marketplace: HealthCare.gov
Not sure which benefits you qualify for?
Benefit Guardian helps you check eligibility for Medicaid, SNAP, and other programs in minutes.
Check the official program page →Official source
For the most accurate and current information, visit the official Texas Medicaid site at hhs.texas.gov or the federal Medicaid.gov.