Overview of the STAR+PLUS HCBS Program
Texas’ STAR+PLUS is a statewide Medicaid managed care program for residents who are elderly or disabled through which medical care and long-term care services and supports are provided. While nursing home care is available via STAR+PLUS, the STAR+PLUS Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) suite of services, called the STAR+PLUS HCBS Program, provides benefits specifically intended to prevent and delay nursing home admissions for persons who require the level of care provided in a nursing home. Services and supports may include in-home personal care assistance, personal emergency response systems, adult day care, and respite care, allowing seniors and individuals with disabilities to live at home, the home of a loved one, an adult foster care home, or an assisted living residence rather than a nursing home.
STAR+PLUS HCBS’ program participants receive their healthcare and long-term care benefits via a single Medicaid plan provided by a managed care organization (MCO). This is essentially a private healthcare company that has a network of care providers, through which program participants receive services. STAR+PLUS HCBS program participants have several MCOs / healthcare plans from which to choose. Persons who are “dual eligible” (eligible for Medicare and Medicaid) are eligible, but they will continue to receive their medical care via Medicare. Texas, however, does offer a Dual Demonstration Program, a managed care program through which persons can receive both their Medicaid and Medicare benefits. Persons enrolled in this program are still able to access long-term care benefits via the STAR+PLUS HCBS Program.
There is some flexibility of providers for persons receiving home and community based services via STAR+PLUS, as select care services may be consumer-directed. This means that rather than receive services by the MCO’s network of licensed care providers, a program participant can hire their own caregiver. While spouses cannot be hired, other family members, such as one’s adult child or grandchild, can be hired. A financial management services agency handles the financial aspects of employment responsibilities, such as background checks, tax withholding, and caregiver payments.
STAR+PLUS HCBS is not an entitlement program; meeting eligibility requirements does not equate to immediate receipt of program benefits. Instead, there are a limited number of participant enrollment slots, and when they are full, an interest list (waiting list) for program participation forms.
Texas previously had a Medicaid Waiver called Community Based Alternatives (CBA). HCBS available via CBA were absorbed into the STAR+PLUS HCBS Program, which may also informally be called the STAR+PLUS Waiver. This program operates through a 1115(a) Demonstration Waiver called the Texas Healthcare Transformation and Quality Improvement Program (THTQIP).
Benefits of the STAR+PLUS HCBS Program
Program participants receive Medicaid healthcare services in addition to long-term services and supports. Follows is a list of potential home and community based services. Care services that can be participant-directed are indicated by an asterisk (*). An individualized service plan determines which benefits a program participant receives.
– Adaptive Aids – specialized medical equipment to assist persons in communicating or completing daily living activities
– Adult Day Health Care – formally called Day Activities and Health Services (DAHS) – provides daytime personal care assistance and supervision in a group setting
– Adult Foster Care Services – personal care assistance and homemaker services in an adult foster care home
– Assisted Living Services – assistance with personal care, homemaker tasks, and medication management
– Financial Management Services – for persons who self-direct their care services
– Home Delivered Meals
– Home Modifications – adding grab bars, wheelchair ramps, etc. for safety and accessibility purposes
– Medical Supplies
– Nursing Services*
– Personal Assistance Services* – non-medical in-home assistance with personal hygiene, dressing, toileting, eating, etc.
– Personal Emergency Response Services
– Primary Home Care (PHC) – personal care assistance for persons with health issues
– Respite Care* – short-term care to alleviate a primary caregiver
– Service Coordination
– Therapies* – cognitive rehabilitation, occupational, speech-language, and physical
– Transitional Assistance Services – covers security deposits, utility set-up fees, moving expenses, etc. for persons transitioning from a nursing home to a home
While services and supports can be provided in adult foster care homes and assisted living residences, the cost of room and board in these settings is not covered by Texas Medicaid.
Eligibility Requirements for STAR+PLUS Program
The STAR+PLUS HCBS Program is for Texas residents who are elderly (aged 65+) or a minimum of 21 years old and disabled who are at risk of nursing home placement. Additional eligibility criteria follows and is relevant for 2024. The criteria can be confusing, and therefore, as an alternative, one can take a Texas Medicaid Eligibility Test here.
Financial Criteria: Income, Assets & Home Ownership
Income
The applicant income limit is equivalent to 300% of the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR), which increases annually in January. An applicant, regardless of marital status, can have a monthly income up to $2,829. When both spouses are applicants, each spouse is considered individually, with each spouse allowed income up to $2,829 / month. When only one spouse is an applicant, the income of the non-applicant spouse is not counted towards the income eligibility of their spouse. Furthermore, monthly income from the applicant spouse can be transferred to the non-applicant spouse as a Spousal Income Allowance, also called a Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMNA), to prevent spousal impoverishment.
The MMMNA is $3,853.50 / month. This is the maximum amount of monthly income that can be transferred to the non-applicant spouse and is intended to bring their income up to this amount. Non-applicant spouses who have their own monthly income equal to or greater than $3,853.50 are not entitled to a Spousal Income Allowance.
Assets
The asset limit is $2,000 for a single applicant. For married couples, with both spouses as applicants, the asset limit is $3,000. When only one spouse is an applicant, the assets of both the applicant and non-applicant spouse are still limited. This is because Medicaid considers the assets of a married couple to be jointly owned. In this case, the applicant spouse can retain up to $2,000 in assets and the non-applicant spouse is allocated a larger portion of the couple’s assets as a Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA). The CSRA allows the non-applicant spouse to keep 50% of the couple’s assets, up to $154,140. If 50% of the assets falls under $30,828, the non-applicant spouse can keep all of the couple’s assets, up to this amount.
Some assets are not counted towards Medicaid’s asset limit. These generally include an applicant’s primary home, household furnishings and appliances, personal effects, and a vehicle.
Assets should not be given away or sold under fair market value within 60-months of long-term care Medicaid application. Medicaid has a Look-Back Rule and violating it results in a Penalty Period of Medicaid ineligibility.
Home Ownership
The home is often the highest valued asset a Medicaid applicant owns, and many persons worry that Medicaid will take it. For eligibility purposes, Texas Medicaid considers the home exempt (non-countable) in the following circumstances.
– The applicant lives in the home or has “Intent” to Return, and their home equity interest is no greater than $713,000. Home equity is the current value of the home minus any outstanding mortgage. Equity interest is the portion of the home’s equity value that is owned by the applicant.
– The applicant has a spouse living in the home.
– The applicant has a child under 21 years old living in the home.
– The applicant has a disabled or blind child of any age living in the home.
While the home is likely exempt while one is receiving Medicaid benefits, it may not be safe from Medicaid’s Estate Recovery Program. Learn more about the potential of Medicaid taking the home.
Medical Criteria: Functional Need
An applicant must require a Nursing Facility Level of Care (NFLOC) to be eligible for the STAR+PLUS HCBS Program. A Medical Necessity and Level of Care (MN/LOC) Assessment is completed by the managed care organization and signed by a physician. It is then electronically submitted to the Texas Medicaid & Healthcare Partnership (TMHP), who determines if this level of care need is met. One area considered is one’s ability / inability to independently complete Activities of Daily Living (i.e., transferring from the bed to a chair, mobility, eating, toileting, bathing). Relevant to some persons with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia, behavioral problems, such as regular attempts to leave the facility or removal of one’s clothes, are also considered. A diagnosis of dementia in and of itself does not mean one will meet a NFLOC.
Qualifying When Over the Limits
Having income and / or assets over Medicaid’s limit(s) does not mean an applicant cannot still qualify for Medicaid. There are a variety of planning strategies that can be used to help persons who would otherwise be ineligible to become eligible. Some of these strategies are fairly easy to implement, and others, exceedingly complex. Below are the most common.
When persons have income over the limits, Miller Trusts, also called Qualified Income Trusts can help. “Excess” income is deposited into the trust, no longer counting as income.
When persons have assets over the limits, one option is to “spend down” assets. Examples include paying off debt, making home modifications for accessibility and safety purposes, and purchasing pre-paid funeral and burial expense trusts called Irrevocable Funeral Trusts. Another option are Medicaid-Compliant Annuities which turn countable assets into a stream of income. There are many other options when the applicant has assets exceeding the limit.
Inadequate planning or improperly implementing a Medicaid planning strategy can result in a denial or delay of Medicaid benefits. Professional Medicaid Planners are educated in the planning strategies available in Texas to meet Medicaid’s financial eligibility criteria without jeopardizing Medicaid eligibility. Furthermore, there are additional planning strategies that not only help one meet Medicaid’s financial criteria but can also protect assets for family as inheritance. These strategies often violate Medicaid’s 60-month Look-Back Rule, and therefore, should be implemented well in advance of the need for long-term care. However, there are some workarounds, and Medicaid Planners are aware of them. For these reasons, it is highly suggested one consult a Medicaid Planner for assistance in qualifying for Medicaid when over the income and / or asset limit(s). Find a Medicaid Planner.
How to Apply for the STAR+PLUS Program
Before You Apply
Prior to applying for the STAR+PLUS HCBS Program, applicants need to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria. Applying when over the income and / or asset limit(s) will be cause for denial of benefits. The American Council on Aging offers a Medicaid Eligibility Test to determine if one might meet Medicaid’s eligibility criteria.
As part of the application process, applicants will need to gather documentation for submission. Examples include copies of Social Security cards, Medicare cards, life insurance policies, property deeds, pre-need burial contracts, bank statements up to 60-months prior to application, and proof of income. A common reason applications are held up is required documentation is missing or not submitted in a timely manner.
The STAR+PLUS HCBS Program is not an entitlement program; approximately 24,000 persons per year can be served via this program. There currently is a statewide interest list (waiting list). An applicant’s access to a participant slot is based on the date their name is added to the interest list. One exception exists; persons who enroll via Money Follows the Person are put at the top of the list.
Application Process
Persons who are not enrolled in STAR+PLUS should contact the Texas Health and Human Services Commission at 1-877-438-5658 to add their name to the STAR+PLUS HCBS interest list. This can also be done by generating a referral at Your Texas Benefits. At the bottom of the webpage, on the right-hand side, there is a box that reads “Find Support Services”. Persons should click on FIND SERVICES and open an account to generate a referral. When a person reaches the top of the interest list, they are contacted to apply and eligibility is determined.
Persons who are enrolled in STAR+PLUS should contact their MCO to inquire about STAR+PLUS HCBS.
Persons can also call 2-1-1 or 877-541-7905 for information and / or assistance.
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), an agency within Texas Health and Human Services (HHS), administers the STAR+PLUS HCBS Program. It was previously administered by the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS). However, in 2017, DADS was abolished. More about the STAR+PLUS HCBS Program.
Approval Process & Timing
Persons must put their name on an interest list to apply for STAR+PLUS HCBS. Unfortunately, the list is very long and the anticipated wait to be invited to apply is many years. Note that there are some exceptions.