call toll free 877-313-3688
You should receive information about Medicaid while you are still in foster care from your CPS caseworkers, Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) staff, PAL Life Skills training, aging out seminars, and other conferences. One of the most important things you should do before you leave foster care is make sure your CPS caseworker and PAL staff have the address you will be moving to or receiving mail at after you leave foster care. You should give them plenty of notice before you leave so that they have time to complete the paperwork for your Medicaid benefits. When you are 18, your caseworker is required under the law to give you your Medicaid card and the insurance card of the health plan you have under Medicaid (usually Star Health/Superior). A few weeks after you leave care, be sure to call 2-1-1 and ask to speak to a foster youth specialist about your Medicaid to make sure it is active and they have a current address for you.
If you are not sure if you are still on Medicaid, you should call 2-1-1 and ask if you are still on Medicaid or check on the Your Texas Benefits website or app. If you find out you are still receiving Medicaid, you can update your address and request a new Medicaid card. If you find out you are no longer on Medicaid, you can apply to get back on FFCC Medicaid. While you can do it on your own, keep in mind that having a PAL staff or transition support case manager help you with the application is a great idea! The best way to apply is to do it online here. Click on Apply for new benefits and either create an account or log in to your existing account. You should write down your login information and keep it safe!
Be sure to answer Yes to any questions about whether you or any person were in foster care at age 18 or older. Once you finish filling out the application, you can submit it electronically.
Another way to apply for Medicaid is to print and mail your application; you will need to fill out one of the following forms:
- H1205 if you just want to apply for Medicaid, or
- H1010 if you want to apply for both Medicaid and SNAP (food stamps). But we recommend you apply for Medicaid with form H1205 and then apply for SNAP once you have been approved for Medicaid so your Medicaid application won’t be denied because of all the extra paperwork you have to provide to show you are eligible for SNAP.
You can get these forms by calling 2-1-1, going to your closest Texas benefits office or downloading and printing the form – find a list of paper forms here. Be sure to answer Yes to any questions about whether you or any person were in foster care at age 18 or older. You will have to mail your application to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) or take it to the closest Texas benefits office.
How to Call 2-1-1 and Get Help from Medicaid
Many aged out foster youth have experienced problems with Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) ending their benefits and telling them that they are not eligible for Medicaid. The notices HHSC sends out are very confusing. Many young adults also have problems getting into their Your Texas Benefits accounts because of special security items in place for foster children. To get help from the right people at HHSC, follow these steps:
- Call 2-1-1 or (877) 541-7905 between 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Central Time Monday–Friday.
- Select your language (English is 1).
- Select 2 (State Benefit Programs).
- Tell the virtual assistant you want to “apply for benefits”
- Respond that you want to transfer to a live agent.
- Wait for a live person—and say “I NEED TO TALK TO A FOSTER YOUTH SPECIALIST.” Keep asking to speak to the SPECIAL FOSTER YOUTH MEDICAID STAFF. Ask for a supervisor to assist if necessary.
- You should reach someone who can help you with your problem. If you don’t get help, you can find more information about who can help you by contacting the Texas Foster Youth Justice Project at (877) 313-3688.