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STAR+PLUS

Medicaid

Our Texas STAR+PLUS plan covers older adults (65 and older) and adults with disabilities (21 and over).

UnitedHealthcare’s Texas STAR+PLUS plan covers traditional Medicaid benefits like doctor visits, hospital stays and prescription medications. We also offer extra services called “value-added services,” like allowances for vision and dental services.

At UnitedHealthcare, every STAR+PLUS member is paired with a Service Coordinator, to help them get the medical and long-term services and supports they need.

View below for a list of plan benefits and information on service areas.

We offer STAR+PLUS coverage in the following service delivery areas (SDAs). If you live in one of these SDAs and would like to change your STAR+PLUS coverage to UnitedHealthcare, click on "Steps to Enroll" above for simple steps to join our plan.

  • Bexar (San Antonio area): Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall, Medina and Wilson counties
  • Central Texas: Bell, Blanco, Bosque, Brazos, Burleson, Colorado, Comanche, Coryell, DeWitt, Erath, Falls, Freestone, Gillespie, Gonzales, Grimes, Hamilton, Hill, Jackson, Lampasas, Lavaca, Leon, Limestone, Llano, Madison, McLennan, Milam, Mills, Robertson, San Saba, Somervell and Washington counties
  • Harris (Houston area): Austin, Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Matagorda, Montgomery, Waller and Wharton counties
  • Dallas (Dallas area): Collin, Dallas, Ellis, Hunt, Kaufman, Navarro and Rockwall counties
  • Hidalgo (Rio Grande Valley area): Cameron, Duval, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Maverick, McMullen, Starr, Webb, Willacy and Zapata counties
  • Northeast Texas: Anderson, Angelina, Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Cooke, Delta, Fannin, Franklin, Grayson, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hopkins, Houston, Lamar, Marion, Montague, Morris, Nacogdoches, Panola, Rains, Red River, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Smith, Titus, Trinity, Upshur, Van Zandt and Wood counties
  • Tarrant (Fort Worth area): Denton, Hood, Johnson, Parker, Tarrant and Wise counties
  • Travis (Austin area): Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Travis and Williamson counties

Benefits & features

Get the assistance you need to be at your best — or to get better if you are injured or sick. That includes:

  • Service Coordinator. Specially trained professional to help you receive the services you need based on a person centered plan.
  • Well Visits. Annual checkups can help keep you healthy or reach your potential.
  • Medicines. Fill your prescriptions at local pharmacies.
  • Lab and X-rays. Lab tests, x-rays and diagnostic imaging are covered.
  • Hospital Care. You pay nothing for care in a hospital.

If you have asthma, diabetes or other long-term conditions, you can depend on us. Our STAR+PLUS plan makes sure you get the care, support and services you need. Benefits include:

  • Service Coordination. Support from an experienced professional.
  • Disease Management. Individual care to help you manage chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma, COPD, Kidney Failure and Heart Failure.
  • Mental Health Support. Counseling and other treatments are available.

Help protect your sight, hearing and smile with these benefits:

  • Vision. Includes exams and $105 toward frames or contact lenses as a value added service.
  • Hearing. Tests, checkups and hearing services are provided.
  • Dental. Checkups are covered as part of a value added service, and emergency care is covered.

Get the medical equipment, assistance and supplies you need to live safely at home. Benefits include:

  • Personal Care. Someone to help with personal care tasks for individuals that qualify based on your primary care physician determination of a functional need and an assessment process.
  • Day Activity Health Services. Supervised care in a group setting with nursing support during the day.
  • Equipment and Supplies. In-home medical and safety equipment are covered as medically necessary.

Sometimes you might need a little extra help using your health plan. For those times, you can rely on:

  • Transportation. Rides to and from medical visits or the pharmacy.
  • Nurse HotlineSMCall our nurses for advice 24/7.
  • Interpreters. As needed for medical appointment or assessments.
  • Member Services. Your benefit questions are answered 24/7.
  • RX Delivery. Get your prescriptions delivered to you at no cost.

Read about all the extras you could get when you become a STAR+PLUS member:

  • Vision. Includes exams and $105 toward frames or contact lenses.
  • Adult Dental Services. Includes $500 towards routine exams, cleanings, and x-rays.
  • Diabetic Management. Shoe insoles for members with diabetes.
  • Online Mental Health Resources. Access articles, videos, and other resources at LiveandWorkWell.com
  • Exercise Kit. Includes one pedometer, one pack of resistance bands, and one water bottle for members who want to become more active. 
  • Learn more about Value-added Services English | Español
  • Read all about the extras you could get when you become a STAR+PLUS Nursing Facility Member English | Español

If you're elderly, disabled or living with an illness, your health needs are unique. Our job is to make it as easy as possible for you to meet those needs. The STAR+PLUS HCBS Waiver program provides an array of services and supports for individuals meet the state criteria and have medical necessity for Nursing Facility Level of Care to assist them to live safely in the setting of their choice. Some of the benefits provided in this program include (not an all inclusive list):

  • Specialized Nursing
  • Home Delivered Meals
  • Respite
  • Dental services
  • Adaptive aids
  • Minor Home Modifications

You get a primary care physician (PCP) who is your main doctor. Use the Doctor Lookup tool to see if your doctor is in our network.

If you don't have a doctor or if your doctor is not in our network, we can help you find a new one close to you. 

Your PCP is your main doctor for:

  • Preventive care.
  • Treatment if you are sick or injured.
  • Referrals to specialists for certain conditions.

This plan pays for all expenses related to a medically necessary hospital stay.

After you leave the hospital, you are not alone. We make sure you get follow-up care to continue healing at home.

Sometimes the basics are hard to do yourself after an illness or injury. If needed, we provide someone to help with:

  • Dressing.
  • Bathing.
  • Feeding.

Your doctor and you need to understand each other. Not speaking English well makes this difficult. We can arrange for an interpreter for your appointment.

We have people at our phone centers that speak more than one language. A service lets us connects with others that speak hundreds of languages.

You can ask to receive information in another language. Then anything we write to you will only be in that language. This is provided at no cost to you.

We make getting your medicine easy.

There are no copays for covered drugs. You can fill your prescriptions at:

  • Local pharmacies.
  • Services that deliver routinely right to your door.
  • Mail order services.

Sometimes you might need a little help understanding your health care options. With us, you have someone you can call 24/7. We’ll answer your questions simply and completely.

Mental health is as important as physical health. That's why we have the same coverage for both.

Required care is 100% covered with no copay. This includes:

  • Behavioral therapy.
  • Substance use treatment.
  • Medications.

You pay nothing for covered services.

While your health care is low-cost or free, the care quality is high. You get: 

  • Care from highly skilled and compassionate doctors.
  • Treatments at respected hospitals and clinics.
  • Prescription drugs coverage.

Medical questions and situations come at inconvenient times. When you have questions about your health or your child's health, you can call a trained nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Our Nurse Hotline nurses will: 

  • Listen to the symptoms.
  • Guide you on self-care.
  • Advise you about getting care at a doctor visit or an urgent care center.
  • Suggest you go right to the emergency department.

You know the bad health effects of smoking. You know you need to quit. We will support you while you quit with coaches and supplies. The only thing you won't get from us is a lecture.

  • Explain medical terms in plain language.
  • Coordinate your doctor appointments and other services or treatments you may need.
  • Connect you with community resources.

Your case manager will stay with you on your medical journey. He or she will:

  • Think beyond just your medical needs.
  • Make sure you have support at home as needed.

Whether you live in the city or in the country, rides are available. Our plan provides round trips to and from plan locations. This includes trips to and from the pharmacy to fill your prescriptions.

You'll get the care, eyeglasses and treatment that let you see life more clearly. Coverage includes $105 each year toward frames or contact lenses.

This benefit is offered by certain stores and retailers.

Choice of Doctor

You get a primary care physician (PCP) who is your main doctor. Use the Doctor Lookup tool to see if your doctor is in our network.

If you don't have a doctor or if your doctor is not in our network, we can help you find a new one close to you. 

Your PCP is your main doctor for:

  • Preventive care.
  • Treatment if you are sick or injured.
  • Referrals to specialists for certain conditions.

Hospitalization

This plan pays for all expenses related to a medically necessary hospital stay.

After you leave the hospital, you are not alone. We make sure you get follow-up care to continue healing at home.

In-Home Care

Sometimes the basics are hard to do yourself after an illness or injury. If needed, we provide someone to help with:

  • Dressing.
  • Bathing.
  • Feeding.

Interpreters

Your doctor and you need to understand each other. Not speaking English well makes this difficult. We can arrange for an interpreter for your appointment.

We have people at our phone centers that speak more than one language. A service lets us connects with others that speak hundreds of languages.

Language Help

You can ask to receive information in another language. Then anything we write to you will only be in that language. This is provided at no cost to you.

Medicines

We make getting your medicine easy.

There are no copays for covered drugs. You can fill your prescriptions at:

  • Local pharmacies.
  • Services that deliver routinely right to your door.
  • Mail order services.

Member Services

Sometimes you might need a little help understanding your health care options. With us, you have someone you can call 24/7. We’ll answer your questions simply and completely.

Mental Health

Mental health is as important as physical health. That's why we have the same coverage for both.

Required care is 100% covered with no copay. This includes:

  • Behavioral therapy.
  • Substance use treatment.
  • Medications.

No Copays

You pay nothing for covered services.

While your health care is low-cost or free, the care quality is high. You get: 

  • Care from highly skilled and compassionate doctors.
  • Treatments at respected hospitals and clinics.
  • Prescription drugs coverage.

Nurse Hotline

Medical questions and situations come at inconvenient times. When you have questions about your health or your child's health, you can call a trained nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Our Nurse Hotline nurses will: 

  • Listen to the symptoms.
  • Guide you on self-care.
  • Advise you about getting care at a doctor visit or an urgent care center.
  • Suggest you go right to the emergency department.

Quitting Tobacco

You know the bad health effects of smoking. You know you need to quit. We will support you while you quit with coaches and supplies. The only thing you won't get from us is a lecture.

Service Coordination - Cornerstone of the STAR+PLUS program

  • Explain medical terms in plain language.
  • Coordinate your doctor appointments and other services or treatments you may need.
  • Connect you with community resources.

Your case manager will stay with you on your medical journey. He or she will:

  • Think beyond just your medical needs.
  • Make sure you have support at home as needed.

Transportation

Whether you live in the city or in the country, rides are available. Our plan provides round trips to and from plan locations. This includes trips to and from the pharmacy to fill your prescriptions.

Vision Care

You'll get the care, eyeglasses and treatment that let you see life more clearly. Coverage includes $105 each year toward frames or contact lenses.

This benefit is offered by certain stores and retailers.

Member resources

Member resources (opens modal window)

Enrollment information

The Texas STAR+PLUS plan specialists can answer questions.

Call us:
1-888-887-9003 / TTY: 711

8:00 am to 8:00 pm local time, Monday – Friday

Steps to enroll
Face-to-face assessments return
  • As of January 2023 some types of assessments will require a face-to-face visit. This means a United Healthcare staff member will need to visit with you in your place of residency.​
  • Please be advised that missing your assessment could impact your services or eligibility. If you have questions, please contact your Service Coordinator or Member Services.​
  • Call Member Services at 1-888-887-9003, TTY 7-1-1, Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-8 p.m. or email memberservices_uhccp@uhc.com to get help finding a provider or setting up a visit.​
Get the details

Visit the Texas CHIP & Medicaid site for more information on eligibility and enrollment.

Texas STAR+PLUS.

For information in alternate formats, like large print, Braille or audio, please call Member Services. Contract information can be found on STAR PLUS Contract Operational (texas.gov)

Member information

You have access to our member-only website. Print ID cards and more. View our handbook below.

Member information is available in paper form, at no cost, upon request, and sent by the health plan within five business days.

Member website

Do you have other format needs?

We offer our materials in large print, audio files, and Braille. Call us today to let us know if you need information in a different format. 

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