Getting health care in Texas without insurance

Does Texas have Medicaid for adults without insurance?

Each state decides who can join Medicaid, the government health program for people with low incomes. KFF, a health policy research group, lists Texas among ten states that had not adopted the Medicaid expansion as of October 2026. Expansion is the choice some states made to cover more adults with low incomes.

Because of that, Texas Medicaid is much narrower than in many states. KFF notes that Texas has the lowest eligibility level for parents in the country, at 15 percent of the federal poverty level. That is a yearly income line the government uses to measure poverty. The line is very low, so a parent can earn little and still not qualify.

Adults without children who are not disabled or elderly generally do not qualify either. Our guide on the Medicaid coverage gap explains this situation.

Children are treated differently from adults. A Texas state flyer says children could still be eligible for the Children's Health Insurance Program, or CHIP. This can be true even when the adults in the family are not eligible for Medicaid. If you have kids, it is worth checking.

How do I apply for Texas Medicaid or CHIP?

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission is the state agency that runs these programs. It points families to the YourTexasBenefits website. It also lists a helpline for Medicaid and CHIP questions. The helpline number is 2-1-1, and you choose option 2. If you are not sure whether you qualify, apply anyway or call and ask. It does not cost anything to find out.

You can also apply for coverage on HealthCare.gov. One application checks whether you qualify for savings on a Marketplace plan, for Medicaid or for CHIP. HealthCare.gov also tells people in states that did not expand Medicaid to apply even if their income looks too low. The application checks all your options.

The county indigent health care program

Texas has a county indigent health care program. The word indigent means a person who does not have enough money to pay for care. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission says the program helps low-income Texas residents who do not qualify for other state or federal health programs. It is run locally by counties and by hospital districts. Public hospitals run it in some places. The state does not run it.

The state's rules set a minimum standard. To qualify, you must live in Texas and must not qualify for Medicaid. Your household income must be at or below 21 percent of the federal poverty level. Your countable assets must be under $2,000, which means money and property that count toward eligibility. The limit is $3,000 if someone in the home is 60 or older or has a disability and meets the relationship rules in the state handbook.

The state handbook says a county may use less strict rules, but only after the state reviews and approves them. In other words, your county may use looser rules than these.

The state handbook lists basic services that include doctor visits, annual physicals, immunizations, lab tests and X-rays, medicines, and hospital care. The county's spending for each eligible person has a cap each state fiscal year. Programs differ from place to place. Some areas are served by a public hospital or hospital district instead of the county, so who runs it depends on where you live.

To find out who handles it in your area, the state says to contact your county's program. It suggests using 2-1-1 Texas to find the local office. When you call, ask what proof of income they want and how long approval takes.

How do I find a community health center in Texas?

Use the free Find a Health Center tool from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), type in your city or zip code, and call the nearest centers. These clinics set fees by income and family size. Our guide to community health centers has more detail.

How to check that a Texas doctor is licensed

The Texas Medical Board runs an online "Look up a License" system. It covers physicians, physician assistants and other health jobs that the board licenses.

According to the board, the lookup shows the license number and the issue and expiration dates. It also shows the current status, such as active, delinquent or suspended. You can see any board restrictions, the doctor's school of graduation and any current board action. Checking this takes a few minutes.

Is direct primary care available in Texas?

Texas passed a direct primary care law in 2015. It defines direct primary care as primary medical care that a physician provides for a direct fee. The fee can be a monthly or membership fee, and a signed written agreement must back it.

The law says that agreement is not health insurance. It also requires the doctor to tell you in writing that it is not insurance before you sign.

A membership does not pay for the emergency room, a hospital stay or surgery. Whether a practice is near you depends on where you live. Our guide to direct primary care explains what a membership usually covers, and our directory lets you search by location.

Emergencies and hospital bills in Texas

If you think you are having an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away. Federal law requires an emergency room to examine and stabilize you whether or not you have insurance.

If a bill comes later, ask the hospital about financial assistance. Our guides on hospital financial assistance and emergency room care without insurance explain how. This page is general education and not medical advice.