If you or your family member is on Texas Medicaid and needs a ramp, grab bars, or a wider doorway, the STAR+PLUS HCBS program may help pay for it. Texas Medicaid is run by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) let people who would otherwise need a nursing facility get that same level of care at home instead. STAR+PLUS is the managed care program that delivers this waiver in Texas.
What Texas offers#
STAR+PLUS HCBS is the main waiver route for adults 21 and older who are 65 or older, or who have a disability, and who need nursing-facility level of care. It runs inside the STAR+PLUS managed care program, so a health plan, not the state directly, authorizes services. Texas also runs separate waivers for other groups, including CLASS and HCS for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, and Medically Dependent Children Program (MDCP) for children. This article covers STAR+PLUS HCBS.
Within STAR+PLUS HCBS, the covered service is called Minor Home Modifications (MHM). MHM pays for physical changes to a home that are necessary for the person's health, welfare, and safety, or that let them function with greater independence. That includes ramps, grab bars, doorway widening, bathroom modifications such as a roll-in shower, and specialized electrical or plumbing work needed for medical equipment.
MHM does not cover general home improvements. Carpeting, roof repair, and central air conditioning are excluded, even if the home needs them. The program also will not fund a major renovation or add square footage to the home. It is built for targeted accessibility fixes, not a full remodel.
Amounts and eligibility#
HHSC publishes a cap for MHM: a $7,500 lifetime limit per member. After that lifetime limit is used, the member can still get up to $300 per Individual Service Plan (ISP) year toward repair and maintenance of modifications already installed. Verified against HHSC's STAR+PLUS handbook and LTSS waiver documents, July 2026.
Financial eligibility works two ways. If the person already receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI), they qualify for STAR+PLUS HCBS without additional income screening. Everyone else must meet a special income limit equal to 300% of the SSI federal benefit rate. Effective January 1, 2026, that limit is $2,982 per month in countable income. Applicants must also be 21 or older. HHSC or the applicant's Medicaid caseworker makes the final eligibility decision. Nothing here guarantees any individual will qualify.
How to apply in Texas#
Start by joining the STAR+PLUS HCBS interest list through HHSC's Interest List Management line at 877-438-5658. This is separate from the Medicaid application itself, which you file online through YourTexasBenefits or by calling 2-1-1.
If the person needing modifications is already enrolled in STAR+PLUS Medicaid, they may not need the interest list at all. Ask the managed care organization (MCO), the health plan responsible for the case, about the "upgrade" assessment. This lets an existing STAR+PLUS member move into HCBS services, including MHM, without a fresh interest-list wait.
Texas maintains a formal interest list for new STAR+PLUS HCBS enrollees. HHSC assesses eligibility when a name reaches the top of the list. Wait times vary and Texas does not publish a per-program wait-time promise, so avoid any source that quotes a specific number of months.
Two paths bypass the interest list: the MCO upgrade process above, and Money Follows the Person, a program for nursing-facility residents who want to move home without the general list wait.
Once approved, the member's chosen MCO authorizes services through the Individual Service Plan and is responsible for arranging cost-effective modifications with a provider.
For help navigating any of this, contact the Texas Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) network at 855-937-2372, or an Area Agency on Aging at 800-252-9240. The federal Eldercare Locator (eldercare.acl.gov, 1-800-677-1116) is a fallback if local lines are busy.
How it stacks with federal programs#
If the person needing modifications is a veteran, check U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) housing grants alongside Texas Medicaid. Programs like Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) can fund larger projects and may work alongside STAR+PLUS. See our VA home modification grants guide.
Original Medicare does not cover structural home modifications. Some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans offer supplemental benefits like grab bars or ramps, but this varies by plan with no standard amount. Call the plan directly to ask what it covers.
Finding a provider who knows this program: Not every contractor has handled STAR+PLUS or MHM paperwork. Adapta Home USA verifies providers' Medicaid Waiver Billing experience, so you can filter for pros who have done this before. Find Home Modifications & Remodeling providers with Medicaid Waiver Billing experience →
For the bigger picture on combining programs, see our national Medicaid HCBS waiver guide and our full guide to paying for home modifications.
FAQ#
Does Texas Medicaid pay for home modifications like ramps or grab bars?#
Yes. STAR+PLUS HCBS covers Minor Home Modifications, including ramps, grab bars, doorway widening, and bathroom modifications, for members who qualify for waiver services and need them for health, welfare, safety, or independence.
What is the STAR+PLUS HCBS interest list and can I skip it?#
It is the waiting list HHSC uses to assess new applicants for STAR+PLUS HCBS. Two routes can skip it: the MCO "upgrade" process for people already enrolled in STAR+PLUS Medicaid, and Money Follows the Person for people currently in a nursing facility.
How much will Texas Medicaid pay toward home modifications?#
Minor Home Modifications carries a $7,500 lifetime limit per member. After that limit is reached, members can still receive up to $300 per Individual Service Plan year for repair and maintenance of existing modifications.
What are the income limits for the STAR+PLUS waiver in 2026?#
SSI recipients qualify without extra income screening. Other applicants must have countable income at or below 300% of the SSI federal benefit rate, which is $2,982 per month effective January 1, 2026. Applicants must be 21 or older.
Find a verified provider near you#
Adapta Home USA's directory lets you search Home Modifications & Remodeling providers by state and filter for Medicaid Waiver Billing experience. Our wheelchair ramp cost guide and accessible bathroom remodel cost guide can help you budget while you wait to hear back.
This article is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your specific situation.
Program amounts, eligibility rules, and application procedures change. Figures on this page were verified against official government sources on the date shown, but you should confirm current details at VA.gov or with the administering agency before making decisions. Adapta Home USA is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or any government agency.