ADULT MEDICAID

Medicaid is the State and Federal cooperative venture that provides medical coverage to eligible need individuals. 

Medicaid was introduced to to improve the health of people who might otherwise go without medical care for themselves and their children. You can think of Medicaid as a type of health insurance for low-income families, children, and people who are elderly or have a disability. But unlike regular health insurance, you don’t have to pay for it, and most services are free.

How does Medicaid work?

Each month you will receive a Medicaid ID card. It is very important that you keep it in a safe place. You will have to show that card each time you visit a doctor or get a prescription filled. You will not receive a monthly ID card if your only benefit is payment of all or part of your Medicare Part B premium.

What is covered?

In most cases, Medicaid pays for doctors’ services, laboratory and X-ray charges, medication, nursing facility and hospital services, family planning, eyeglasses, hearing aids, ambulance, podiatry, chiropractic, maternity, nurse midwife, and other health care services.

Medicaid is available to qualifying Texans of all ages and abilities.

In general you must:

  • Be a Texas resident
  • Be a U.S. citizen or a non-citizen in certain recognized categories
  • Meet certain source and income limits, which vary by eligibility group

People who receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Refugee Cash Assistance, and SSI automatically get Medicaid. (TANF is sometimes called welfare, and SSI is available to people who are elderly, blind, or have a disability).

Other people also may qualify based on their income and resources.

  • Low-income children under age 19 and pregnant women
  • Families that leave TANF for work or whose time limits have expired
  • Youths aging out of foster care
  • Families that have high medical bills they cannot pay
  • People who are elderly or have a disability who do not receive SSI may qualify for assistance in a nursing facility, intermediate care facility for people with mental retardation (ICF/MR), state school, or state hospital. They also may be eligible under a Medicaid waiver program or continue to qualify after being denied SSI due to a change in income
  • Medicaid also covers out-of-pocket medical expenses for certain Medicare recipients, such as Medicare premiums, deductibles, and co-insurance costs

Different eligibility requirements apply to each group.

For application assistance via telephone, call:

830.327.6000

For application assistance in person, visit:

NEW BRAUNFELS FOOD BANK
1620 S. Seguin Ave.
New Braunfels, TX 78130