Health Care

This toolkit is designed to help families of children and young adults who either receive Social Security Income or participate in a waiver program transition to the STAR Kids managed care program.

Families with at least one person who gets Medicaid may be eligible to enroll in a program that covers the premium — or part of the premium — for employer-sponsored health insurance.

Health plans are implementing safeguards to ensure people with disabilities continue to receive the medical services they need after they transition to STAR+PLUS on September 1.

Most Texans can buy private insurance through the federal Health Insurance Marketplace, although advocates are urging people to take their time and consider the options before making a decision. The initial enrollment period started on Oct. 1, 2013, and continues through March 31, 2014.

The HIPP program is particularly beneficial to families with multiple children because the premium will usually cover all of them, not just the child with a disability.

Recently, The National Council on Disability released a report titled “Medicaid Managed Care for People with Disabilities: Policy and Implementation Considerations for State and Federal Policymakers.”

Taking folic acid — a common, inexpensive vitamin supplement — before and during the early stages of pregnancy may help dramatically reduce your child’s risk of autism.

The Health and Human Services Commission resumed paying 100% of the Medicare rate for health care for dual eligible individuals until they reach the Medicare deductible limit, as of Jan. 1, 2013.

All health insurance companies and group health plans are required to use the same form that provides an easy-to-understand summary about their benefits and coverage, making it easier to compare different health care plans.

As part of its ongoing work to oversee the Medicaid dental program for children in Texas, the State is ending its contract with one of its three Medicaid managed care plans effective Dec. 1, 2012.