Dealing with Being Unable to Afford Texas Health Insurance

5. If you cannot afford health care or insurance...

...there are programs that provide health insurance to some people who cannot afford to buy it on their own. You or your family members may qualify, even if you work. However, these programs have income and asset limits. In Texas, the main programs are Medicaid/TexCare and CHIP/TexCare.

Generally, you can get coverage if you are pregnant, a parent with a child living at home, a person with a disability or a person who spends most of your income on health care. Children can often get coverage -- even if their parents don't qualify -- because the income limits are usually higher for children. In Texas, children can generally get coverage if their family income is less than:

Size of Family	2	3	4
Income Level	$27,380	$34,340	$41,300

If you are pregnant and meet the income limits shown below, you can get coverage during your pregnancy and for up to 60 days after your baby is born. Often, your baby will then have guaranteed coverage for at least one year.

Size of Family (including unborn baby)	2	3	4
Income Level	$25,327	$31,765	$38,203

If you are not a U.S. citizen, you might be able to qualify, depending on your immigration status and how long you have lived in the United States.

If you can't afford health care, it is best to apply rather than trying to guess whether or not you are eligible because the income rules are complicated.

TO LEARN MORE, contact Medicaid/TexCare at 1.800.252.8263 or 1.800.735.2988 TTY. If you do not speak English, you have a right to get help in languages other than English.

TO LEARN MORE about children's health care coverage, call 1.877.KIDS.NOW or visit www.insurekidsnow.gov.

There may also be other programs to help you pay for health insurance. Be sure to ask about other available programs when you contact the Medicaid/TexCare program.

More Help Finding Your Way

You may want help finding out what programs exist, if you qualify and how to work through the system. You may be able to get this help from the following:

• You can call Texas Legal Services Center at 1.800.622.2520 or visit www.tlsc.org to find the legal services office that is closest to where you live. You can also check www.lsc.gov.
• You can also call the consumer health assistance program, STARLink, at 1.866.566.8989.