Texas Medicaid does cover in-home care — through the STAR+PLUS program. Here are the 2026 limits, what it covers, and the interest-list reality nobody warns families about.
Yes — Texas Medicaid pays for in-home personal care, but through a specific managed-care program called STAR+PLUS, and only for seniors who meet both financial and medical criteria. It is the main way lower-income Texans get help with bathing, dressing, meals, and daily tasks at home instead of moving to a nursing facility.
| Requirement | 2026 limit |
|---|---|
| Monthly income (single applicant) | $2,982 |
| Countable assets (single) | $2,000 |
| Countable assets (married, both applying) | $3,000 |
| Medical need | Nursing-facility level of care |
Two important notes before you rule anyone out. First, the home you live in generally does not count toward the asset limit. Second, income above the limit does not automatically disqualify you — a properly set up Miller Trust (qualified income trust) can bring countable income under the cap. An elder law attorney handles this routinely, and married couples where only one spouse needs care have additional protections so the healthy spouse is not impoverished.
One feature families are often surprised by: through consumer-directed services, the person receiving care can hire certain family members — an adult child or grandchild, though not a spouse — as paid caregivers.
The STAR+PLUS home-and-community-based waiver has an interest list, and the wait can be long — often years, not months. That makes timing strategic: get on the list early, even if care is not urgently needed yet. Being on the list costs nothing and does not obligate you. Call Texas Health and Human Services at 877-438-5658 or apply through Your Texas Benefits. Some people with immediate needs qualify through other doors — for example, those already receiving SSI, or through nursing-facility transition programs — so it is worth asking HHSC about your specific situation.
Most families we serve pay for care through some mix of private funds, VA Aid & Attendance, and long-term care insurance while they wait — our guide to the seven ways families pay for home care walks through each. And because care needs rarely wait for bureaucracy, a modest private-pay schedule now (see current Austin rates) often bridges the gap safely.
STAR+PLUS is the Texas Medicaid managed-care program for adults with disabilities and seniors — it is how Medicaid delivers long-term services and supports, including home care, in most of the state.
Generally yes — a primary residence is typically not counted toward the asset limit while she lives in it, though estate-recovery rules can apply later. An elder law attorney can explain the specifics.
Yes — through consumer-directed services, an adult child or grandchild can be hired and paid as the caregiver. Spouses cannot.
It varies by region and case, but waits are commonly measured in years — which is why getting on the list early matters even if you do not need services yet.