Texas runs long-term care Medicaid on the same hard-income-cap model Florida uses, but with its own delivery system, its own numbers, and its own legal quirks layered on top. STAR+PLUS manages the bulk of long-term services and supports, a Qualified Income Trust is often mandatory rather than optional, and the state recognizes the Lady Bird deed the same way Florida does — through case law rather than a dedicated statute.
Every figure and program name below reflects how the Texas Health and Human Services Commission runs these programs today, broken down pillar by pillar for Texas specifically.
| If this is your situation | Start here |
|---|---|
| Care Needed NowA hospital discharge is being planned, a facility decision is imminent, or home care has already started. | Texas Medicaid Look-Back PeriodTexas VA Aid and Attendance |
| Care Within 1-3 YearsMemory changes, a recent fall, or a new diagnosis have made the timeline real, but care isn't needed today. | Texas VA Aid and AttendanceTexas Long-Term Care Planning |
| Planning AheadNo diagnosis, no crisis, no urgency — just the recognition that long-term care is a when, not an if, for most people eventually. | Texas Long-Term Care InsuranceTexas Long-Term Care Planning |
| Veteran (or surviving spouse) of wartime serviceAdds a federal pension benefit on top of whatever the Situation and State rows point to. | Texas VA Aid and Attendance |
| Owns significant home equityThe home is usually Medicaid-exempt during life but affects estate recovery and private-pay runway. | Texas Lady Bird DeedTexas Medicaid Long-Term Care |
| Already has LTC insurance or a hybrid life/LTC policy in forceThe existing policy is usually the first dollar spent; other pillars become supplemental once benefits are exhausted or if a gap remains. | Texas Long-Term Care InsuranceTexas Medicaid Long-Term Care |
Every pillar below has its own dedicated Texas page with the current rules, dollar figures, and what to do next.
How Texas delivers long-term services and supports through STAR+PLUS, and why its income-cap rules make a Qualified Income Trust essential for some applicants.
Financial EligibilityTexas's 2026 $2,000 individual resource limit, $3,000 couple limit, income cap, Qualified Income Trust rule, and protections for a spouse at home.
Look-Back & PenaltiesTexas's 60-month transfer review, the current $262.37 daily penalty divisor, and why timing a gift without legal advice can delay long-term-care Medicaid.
Asset Protection ToolHow Texas's enhanced life estate deed preserves the owner's control, avoids probate, and is shaped by Burt and Wright rather than a dedicated statute.
Estate RecoveryTexas's probate-only Medicaid Estate Recovery Program, its age-55 long-term-care scope, and the confirmed administrative hardship-waiver process for qualifying heirs.
Nursing Home CoverageTexas nursing-facility Medicaid eligibility, the $75 personal-needs allowance, co-payment calculation, and the 30-consecutive-day facility requirement.
Home & Community CareSTAR+PLUS HCBS and Community First Choice: two Texas routes to in-home support with different eligibility and interest-list realities.
Planning AheadTexas planning priorities: income-cap compliance, Qualified Income Trust administration, transfer timing, home decisions, and probate-only estate recovery.
VA BenefitsHow VA Aid and Attendance fits with Texas Medicaid, Texas State Veterans Homes, and the disabled-veteran residence-homestead property-tax exemption.
LTC InsuranceTexas regulation of long-term-care insurance, the open Partnership Program's dollar-for-dollar Medicaid resource disregard, and the 30-day free-look protection.
Participates in the State Long-Term Care Partnership Program.
Rules and figures change. Confirm current details with the agency before you act.
A policy in place before care is needed can change every one of these pillars in your favor. Get a free, no-obligation quote.
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