Texas would set up a new program to help low-income residents buy private health plans, if the federal government allows it
What it does
HB 113 would create a program that connects certain low-income Texans with health coverage through private insurance plans, a health benefit exchange, or other resources. People younger than 65 with household income at or below 133 percent of the federal poverty level who do not qualify for Medicaid could enroll, and the state would use federal matching money to help pay for their coverage. If the federal government puts Medicaid on a block grant, the state program would cover people at or below 100 percent of the federal poverty level, children under 19 who get Supplemental Security Income or live in foster care or a state-supervised residential care setting, and anyone who met the rules in effect on August 31, 2027. The bill would also set up a parental fee program, if federal law allows, for parents of children who get long-term services at home or in an institution, with the fee based on the services and the household income.
What it means for your community
Much of this waits on the federal government, so state agencies would have to seek a waiver first and could hold off on parts of the bill until they get one. If you get Medicaid and choose a private plan instead, the state could give you a sliding scale subsidy for the premium plus extra help with copays and deductibles, and any leftover subsidy money could go into a health savings account for premiums and health care costs. If your child uses long-term Medicaid services, you could owe a fee, but missing it would not take away your child's coverage. The bill would also order studies of estate recovery and of income and asset limits for long-term care, with reports due by December 1, 2028, and it names relieving local tax burdens as one of its goals.
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