Connecting Texas Kids to Medical Coverage Blog Series Part III: Medicaid Expansion Affecting Uninsured Children in Texas

Texas is one of the 14 states that has not expanded Medicaid, leaving 21.5% of children uninsured. About 50% of uninsured children reside in six states in the United States, with Texas taking the lead.

Lone Star Legal Aid’s Connecting Texas Kids to Coverage Program (CTKC) legally assists low-income families when applying their kids for medical coverage. We can help your child apply for Texas Medicaid as well as Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). 

Why are there so many children uninsured?

Over 61% of uninsured children in Texas live in mixed citizenship households. A common misconception among immigrants, is that their citizenship status will be exposed by applying for medical coverage for their children.

This is not true. Texas Medicaid and CHIP are not associated with immigration agencies. They only work directly with work history agencies to verify previous and current income status. If you are an immigrant and your child is a U.S. citizen, a Texas resident and meets all other qualifications, you as a parent or legal guardian will not be asked about your citizenship status. This misconception leads to many families not applying their children for medical insurance out of fear they will be deported and therefore, contributes to the high rate of uninsured children in Texas.

How to get started

For individual assistance, contact LSLA’s Connecting Texas Kids to Coverage Project at 713-652-0077 ext. 8103. One of our paralegals specializing in Children’s Medicaid & CHIP will talk to you to determine your eligibility for the programs.

If you would like to learn more about services LSLA offers during benefits application or renewal, visit our previous blog here.

Want to become a partner with LSLA?

If you are interested in collaborating, joining forces for outreach events, or doing on-site enrollment, please contact LSLA Project Coordinator, Christian Pineda at 713-652-0077 ext. 1037 or CPineda@lonestarlegal.org

 Throughout January 2021, LSLA will be posting a series of blogs on how civil legal aid can help a loved one or a child you know in need of health insurance benefits. In the series, you will find out about issues the Connecting Texas Kids to Coverage unit at LSLA can help with, the process of applying for benefits and the answers to all your frequently asked questions.

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If you or a loved one are a victim and need assistance, you can apply for free legal services by calling 1-800-733-8394 or by visiting our website at www.lonestarlegal.org.  For more resources, visit the Texas Crime Victim Legal Assistance Network.

Lone Star Legal Aid is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm focused on advocacy on behalf of low-income and underserved populations. Lone Star Legal Aid serves millions of people at 125% of federal poverty guidelines that reside in 72 counties in the eastern and Gulf Coast regions of Texas, and 4 counties of southwest Arkansas. Lone Star Legal Aid focuses its resources on maintaining, enhancing, and protecting income and economic stability; preserving housing; improving outcomes for children; establishing and sustaining family safety and stability, health and well‐being; and assisting populations with special vulnerabilities, like those who have disabilities, or who are elderly, homeless, or have limited English language skills. To learn more about Lone Star Legal Aid, visit our website at www.lonestarlegal.org.

Media contact: media@lonestarlegal.org