Assisted Living in Texas

Texas's Medicaid program for older adults and people with disabilities. It pays for doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, and other medical services. It does not pay assisted living rent, but you need it to get STAR+PLUS Home and Community Based Services, which can pay for your care in assisted living.

The limits below apply to people who need nursing home care or waiver services such as STAR+PLUS Home and Community Based Services. If you get SSI, you get Medicaid automatically, with no separate application.

If you are married and your spouse stays at home, your spouse can keep $32,532 to $162,660 in savings and up to $4,066.50 a month in income when you get nursing home care or waiver services.

A Medicaid program, run through STAR+PLUS health plans, for people who would otherwise need a nursing home. It can pay for the care you get in an assisted living community that has a contract with your health plan, such as personal care, help with medications, housekeeping, and 24-hour supervision. It can also pay for nursing, therapy, and medical supplies.

It does not pay room and board. You pay that to the community yourself. The state sets the charge at the SSI federal benefit rate, $994 a month in 2026, minus $85 that you keep each month for personal needs. Depending on your income, you may also owe a copayment. People who get SSI do not owe a copayment.

People who already have full Medicaid, including everyone who gets SSI, never wait on an interest list. Others are added to the STAR+PLUS HCBS interest list. On August 31, 2026, 12,100 people were on it, and almost all of them had been waiting less than a year.

Pays for an attendant to help with bathing, grooming, meals, and housekeeping in your own home. It is for people whose income is too high for regular Medicaid. You get only the attendant services, not full Medicaid coverage. CAS does not pay for care in assisted living or any other care facility.

The federal health insurance program for people 65 and older. Part A covers hospital stays and a short period of skilled nursing care after a hospital stay. Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient care, and medical equipment. Medicare does not pay for assisted living rent or for help with daily tasks like bathing and dressing. In 2026, Part B costs $202.90 a month with a $283 yearly deductible, and the Part A hospital deductible is $1,736.

Plans sold by private insurers that replace Original Medicare. They must cover everything Original Medicare covers, and many add drug, dental, vision, or hearing coverage. Plans, costs, and doctor networks vary by county.

Drug plans that add prescription coverage to Original Medicare. Each plan has its own list of covered drugs and its own premium. Most Medicare Advantage plans already include drug coverage.

A federal program, also called the Part D Low-Income Subsidy, that pays most Part D premiums, deductibles, and drug copays. People who get Medicaid, SSI, or a Medicare Savings Program qualify automatically.

Texas Medicaid programs that pay Medicare costs for people with limited income. Anyone in QMB, SLMB, or QI-1 also qualifies for Extra Help.

Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) pays Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance. Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) and Qualifying Individual (QI-1) pay the Part B premium. Qualified Disabled and Working Individual (QDWI) pays the Part A premium for people under 65 who lost premium-free Part A after going back to work.

Monthly income for retired workers, based on what you earned during your working years. You can spend it on anything, including assisted living. You need at least 40 work credits, which is about 10 years of work. Benefits can start at 62, and the monthly check is larger if you wait until full retirement age or later.

A monthly federal payment for people who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled and have very little income and savings. Getting SSI usually qualifies you for Medicaid as well.