Medicaid waiver program Texas options can provide home- and community-based services for eligible people who need long-term support but may be able to receive that care outside an institution. Texas has several waiver programs, and each one serves a different population with its own medical, functional, financial, and enrollment requirements.
This guide compares the main Texas waiver programs, explains who may qualify, what services may be available, and how to join the appropriate interest or inquiry list.
1. What Is A Medicaid Waiver Program In Texas?
A Medicaid waiver program Texas residents may use can provide home- and community-based services to eligible people who would otherwise meet criteria for institutional care. Depending on the program, support may include personal assistance, respite, nursing, adaptive equipment, employment services, or home modifications.
Texas currently operates six 1915(c) Medicaid waivers: MDCP, HCS, TxHmL, CLASS, DBMD, and YES. STAR+PLUS HCBS provides similar long-term services and supports through Texas’s Section 1115 demonstration.
Eligibility rules are different for each program. Some waiver pathways can use special Medicaid financial eligibility rules, while others, including TxHmL, require the person to already have qualifying Medicaid coverage.
2. Which Texas Waiver Program May Fit Your Needs?
Use this Medicaid waiver program Texas comparison to identify a starting contact. Each program also applies detailed eligibility rules.
| Program | Population And Care Requirements | Enrollment Contact |
| STAR+PLUS HCBS | Adults 21+ meeting nursing-facility level-of-care requirements | STAR+PLUS MCO service coordinator; HHSC for interest-list inquiries |
| Medically Dependent Children Program (MDCP) | People under 21 meeting nursing-facility level of care | HHSC: 877-438-5658 |
| Home and Community-based Services (HCS) | People with intellectual disability or qualifying related conditions meeting ICF/IID criteria | Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability Authority (LIDDA) |
| Texas Home Living (TxHmL) | Eligible people with intellectual disability or related conditions living at home; ICF/IID criteria | LIDDA |
| Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS) | Qualifying related condition originating before 22; applicable ICF/IID criteria | HHSC: 877-438-5658 |
| Deaf Blind with Multiple Disabilities (DBMD) | Deafblindness with additional disability; applicable institutional-care criteria | HHSC: 877-438-5658 |
| Youth Empowerment Services (YES) | Youth ages 3–18 with serious emotional disturbance meeting psychiatric hospitalization criteria | Local mental health authority’s YES inquiry line |
MDCP services generally operate through STAR Kids, with STAR Health arrangements for applicable foster-care members. Those managed-care programs are distinct from MDCP eligibility.
>>> Read more: What Does Medicaid Cover for Dental for Adults in Texas? 5 Essential Facts
3. Who May Qualify For Waiver Services?
Eligibility for a Texas Medicaid waiver depends on the specific program. Applicants may need to meet several requirements at the same time, including Texas residency, age or disability criteria, an applicable institutional level of care, financial eligibility, and an approved service plan.
Financial eligibility differs by waiver. Some HCBS waiver pathways can use special Medicaid financial rules. For applicable programs in 2026, Texas publishes a special gross monthly income limit of $2,982 for one person and a general countable-resource limit of $2,000, although exclusions and other eligibility rules apply.
TxHmL works differently: a person generally must already be receiving an appropriate type of Medicaid before enrolling. TxHmL does not use the special income-limit pathway to establish Medicaid eligibility.
For some waiver pathways involving children, parental income may not be counted when determining the child’s Medicaid financial eligibility. For example, Texas states that parental income does not apply to YES eligibility, and its 2026 HCBS financial guidance says parental income is not considered under applicable waiver financial rules.
Meeting Medicaid financial requirements alone does not guarantee waiver enrollment. The applicant must also satisfy the program’s medical, functional, diagnostic, and service-planning requirements, and some programs have interest lists or limited enrollment capacity.
4. What Services May Be Available?
Depending on eligibility, a Medicaid waiver program Texas offers may support daily living, healthcare needs, and community participation through services such as:
- Personal assistance: Help with activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, and other approved daily tasks.
- Respite: Temporary care that gives an unpaid caregiver a break while maintaining the participant’s support.
- Nursing and therapy: Approved nursing care or therapies addressing assessed health and functional needs.
- Adaptive aids: A Medicaid waiver program Texas offers may cover specialized equipment that improves mobility, communication, and independence.
- Home modifications: Approved changes, such as ramps or accessible bathroom features, that improve access and safety.
- Habilitation: Assistance with developing or maintaining daily living, social, and community skills.
- Supported employment: Help obtaining or maintaining employment, including approved on-the-job support.
- Behavioral or specialized supports: Services addressing assessed behavioral needs or other needs specific to the program’s population.
Benefits under a Medicaid waiver program Texas offers vary by program and individual service plan. Services available through one waiver may not be covered by another, and approval is not guaranteed for every participant.
>>> Read more: Can Medicaid Take Your House in Texas? When Estate Recovery Applies
5. How To Request Services And Navigate Interest Lists
To request waiver services, contact the appropriate agency and ask about enrollment or interest lists. Keep your contact information current so you can receive updates.
Step 1. Identify relevant programs: Compare needs with each Medicaid waiver program Texas option; ask about all potentially applicable pathways.
Step 2. Contact the correct office: Use HHSC, your LIDDA, MCO, or local mental health authority.
Step 3. Request list placement: Join applicable interest or inquiry lists. Placement is not an eligibility determination.
Step 4. Maintain contact: Update addresses and phone numbers, verify status, and retain confirmation.
Step 5. Complete reviews: When offered enrollment in a Medicaid waiver program Texas provides, submit financial records and complete required diagnostic or functional assessments.
Step 6. Review the plan: Discuss approved services, provider choices, and coordination. You may be placed on more than one applicable waiver interest list. However, Texas generally does not allow a person to be enrolled in multiple Medicaid waiver programs at the same time, and program-specific compatibility rules apply.
6. Keep Care Calls And Enrollment Updates Within Reach
Applying for a Medicaid waiver program Texas may involve more calls than you expected. An affordable phone connection can help you stay reachable throughout the process.
If you already receive Medicaid, another benefit worth exploring is the Federal Lifeline Program. It reduces the cost of qualifying monthly phone service or internet service, helping eligible households keep essential communication within budget.
Medicaid participation provides one route to eligibility. Households without Medicaid may qualify through SNAP, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, or income at or below 135% of federal poverty guidelines. Lifeline requires separate verification, with one benefit per household.
The savings are federally supported, but your connection comes from a participating Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC). That carrier provides the service and applies the discount, which is why receiving service involves enrolling with a participating provider.
Cintex Wireless offers Lifeline wireless service alongside free or discounted device promotions. For households replacing an unreliable phone, comparing the device and monthly service together can help clarify the overall cost.
Notably, the carrier has merged into AirTalk Wireless to expand existing device choices. Depending on availability, some of the models to check for include:
For Medicaid waiver program Texas applicants, a reliable connection helps manage assessment calls, coordinate care, and respond to enrollment opportunities.
IMPORTANT: The government does not subsidize devices. Lifeline programs cover basic service costs only. Free or discounted devices, upgrade plans, or top-ups are exclusive benefits provided by Cintex Wireless and AirTalk Wireless as part of the promotional offers. Terms and conditions apply. Limited-time promotion—offers vary by state, stock availability, and eligibility.
7. FAQs
Can I join more than one waiver interest list?
Yes. You can be placed on multiple applicable interest lists, but being on a list does not establish eligibility or guarantee enrollment. Texas generally prohibits simultaneous enrollment in multiple Medicaid waiver programs, subject to program-specific rules.
Does Medicaid approval guarantee waiver services?
No. Approval for Medicaid does not guarantee enrollment in a Medicaid waiver program Texas offers. You must meet specific eligibility and assessment requirements, and an available slot may still be required.
Can my child qualify if our household income is too high?
Yes, potentially. Some waiver pathways assess a child’s finances without counting parental income. Confirm the specific program’s financial rules and other eligibility requirements.
How long will I wait for an available slot?
There is no universal timeline. Waiting periods vary by program and available funding or slots. Ask the responsible office about your list status and other support available while waiting.
Conclusion
Choosing a Medicaid waiver program Texas offers starts with finding the program that best matches the applicant’s care needs and eligibility profile. Financial eligibility alone is not enough, since each program can also require specific medical, functional, diagnostic, or service-planning criteria.
Contact the appropriate HHSC office, LIDDA, managed care plan, or local mental health authority to confirm the right pathway and request placement on any applicable interest or inquiry lists. Keep your contact information current while you wait, and be prepared to complete financial and care assessments when an enrollment opportunity becomes available.
