Texas MEPD — How Medicaid for the Elderly and People with Disabilities Works

When you call 2-1-1 in Texas and ask about help with Medicare costs for an aging parent, you'll be connected to the MEPD unit — Medicaid for the Elderly and People with Disabilities. Understanding what MEPD is (and what it isn't) helps you navigate the system without getting routed to the wrong program.

What MEPD Covers

MEPD is not a single benefit. It's the eligibility unit within Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) that administers several programs for people who are 65 or older or who have qualifying disabilities:

• Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, QI, QDWI) — help with Medicare premiums; QMB also helps with Medicare cost sharing
• Community Attendant Services — personal care assistance at home
• STAR+PLUS — managed care for dual-eligible adults (Medicare + Medicaid)
• Nursing Facility Medicaid — coverage for long-term nursing home care
• Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers — alternatives to nursing home care

MEPD caseworkers use a different eligibility methodology than the programs that serve younger, non-disabled Texans. Instead of Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) rules, MEPD uses SSI-related (non-MAGI) income and asset counting — the same methodology that applies to Supplemental Security Income.

MEPD vs. Regular Texas Medicaid

This is a common point of confusion. When people say "Texas Medicaid," they could mean:

• MEPD programs — for the elderly and disabled, using SSI-related rules with income disregards and asset tests
• Regular Medicaid — for pregnant women, children, and some parents, using MAGI rules with no asset test

MEPD has asset tests (resource limits). Regular Medicaid eliminated most asset testing under the ACA. The distinction matters because families sometimes hear "Medicaid has no asset test" and assume that applies to their elderly parent. It doesn't — MEPD programs still count liquid resources against specific thresholds.

For QMB, SLMB, and QI, the resource limits are $9,950 (individual) and $14,910 (couple) in 2026; QDWI limits are $4,000 and $6,000. For nursing home Medicaid and HCBS waivers, the limits and rules are different and may involve a five-year asset-transfer lookback that MSPs don't require.

How MEPD Connects to Medicare Savings Programs

Medicare Savings Programs are the simplest programs within the MEPD umbrella. They require the least documentation, use the streamlined Form H1200-EZ, and carry no estate recovery risk.

When you submit an MSP application, the MEPD caseworker evaluates eligibility across the relevant MSP tiers (QMB, SLMB, QI, and QDWI). If your parent's income and assets also qualify for full Medicaid benefits, the caseworker may flag that — but a standalone MSP application won't automatically trigger a full Medicaid determination. Form H1200 is the general application for MEPD programs; H1200-EZ is an option for MSPs and non-waiver community-based Medicaid programs.

The Application Channels

All MEPD programs, including MSPs, are accessed through the same HHSC channels:

• YourTexasBenefits.com — online application and case management
• 2-1-1 (Option 2 for MEPD) — phone applications and status checks
• Local HHSC offices — in-person assistance (availability varies by county)
• Mail — PO Box 149024, Austin, TX 78714 (or the Midland center for rural counties)

For MSP-only applications, Form H1200-EZ is the streamlined option. HHSC also allows it as an alternative to Form H1200 for non-waiver community-based Medicaid programs.

The Texas Medicare Savings Programs & Extra Help Guide focuses on the MSP side of MEPD — the programs that reduce Medicare costs without the complexity of full Medicaid applications. It includes the income worksheets, document checklists, and processing timelines specific to MSP applications through the MEPD system.

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