Latest News

Taylor is a 29-year-old veteran in rural East Texas. She lives on a small veterans benefit check in a modest apartment with her young daughter. She called Lone Star Legal Aid because she needed a Durable Power of Attorney, or DPOA.  The purpose of a DPOA is to allow you to designate a person to take care of your person […]

Soon, the Social Security Administration may start taking back up to 50% of your monthly check if you have an overpayment.   If your check is reduced, or if you get any notice of an overpayment, don’t wait.  Call Lone Star Legal Aid for help: 1-800-733-8394. Our attorneys can work with the Social Security Administration to modify your repayment plan – […]

After the dentist extracted all her teeth, Mary had to wait for her new dentures. She was excited to learn they were ready, but when she arrived at her dentist’s office, the staff said she couldn’t have them. Unless she paid out of pocket. The price was $2,600. Mary was devastated. She’d been dropped by her dental insurance, the office […]

Jessica needed medical treatment. Every time she called the Texas Health and Human Services Department (HHSC), she got the “run-around,” she said. The doctor said her Medicaid plan was inactive. HHSC said it was active. Jessica’s Medicaid plan is called QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary). For people on Disability, QMB covers expensive co-pays for treatments like the one Jessica needed. Since […]

Our client, Autumn, is a minor who never received notice if her Children’s Medicaid was renewed for the new year. Her mother renewed her benefits along with her other young daughters. One daughter received renewal, while Autumn did not receive a response. Texas Health and Human Services (HHSC) told Autumn’s mother that her case would be escalated, but they never […]

UPDATE: This change went into effect March 1, 2024. Low-income mothers in Texas will now receive Medicaid coverage for a year after giving birth. This approval, granted by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, marks a year-long initiative that encompasses half of all births in the state. In Texas, Medicaid enrollment grew steadily throughout the pandemic, increasing from about […]

The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides beneficiaries to customers that are retired workers, disabled workers, as well as survivors of a passed loved one. Sometimes the SSA experiences overpayment issues which can cause distress on its customers. Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley announced he is taking four vital steps to immediately address overpayment issues. Customers whose benefits are withdrawn can […]

Morgan is a 20-year-old diagnosed with ADHD, Autistic Disorder, Aspergers Syndrome, depression, and seizures. He was employed at Walmart, Sears, and Home Depot as a maintenance man, placing work orders, stocking, and unloading furniture. He failed to meet production demands which caused him stress and anxiety and eventually lost focus of his work tasks. He was later fired for poor […]

Mark is a minor facing various disabilities and health challenges. His mom, Laura, found out about the Medicaid denial when she tried to take him to the doctor. Laura turned to Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) to appeal the denial and address the mistakes made by Texas Health and Human Services (HHSC) in her son’s case. She shared that because […]

As of March 1, 2024, low-income mothers in Texas will receive Medicaid coverage for a year after giving birth. This approval, granted by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, marks a year-long initiative that encompasses half of all births in the state. In Texas, Medicaid enrollment grew steadily throughout the pandemic, increasing from about 4 million people in early […]

Paul was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer and developed eye problems because of it. He is a minor and has been a Medicaid recipient for the last five years which has helped treat his eye condition. United Health Care, a Managed Care Organization (MCO), provided Paul with benefits throughout that time, until suddenly Paul was denied an […]

In 2020, Congress passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), part of which continued Medicaid benefits for those already enrolled, regardless of any changes in eligibility. That continuous Medicaid coverage ended on March 31, 2023, and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) began disenrolling recipients in May.    HHSC began sending recertification letters to all Medicaid recipients […]

15-year-old Sarah’s dentist told her she needed braces. Although she had a health plan that was part of a Managed Care Organization (MCO), her orthodontic claims were denied over and over. They claimed braces are not “medically necessary.” Sarah’s mother Kathy reached out to Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) for assistance with an appeal. Elizabeth Green, in our Public Benefits […]

Based on current COVID-19 trends, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is planning for the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19, declared under Section 319 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, to expire on May 11, 2023. Earlier this month, there was an announcement ending the additional funding for SNAP recipients due to the PHE ending, […]

At 12 years old, Mara was diagnosed with a rare disease, Takayasu Arteritis, which left her unable to walk. She was told she would be disabled for the rest of her life. At 20 years-old, the Social Security Administration (SSA) determined her diagnosed conditions were not severe enough to warrant a finding of disability, and Mara was denied Social Security […]

Overview Most Affordable Care Act Coverage Plans will stay the same, leading into each new year. However, new rules implemented this past year will affect coverage in 2023, reducing your cost. If you haven’t been able to find a plan, or this is your first-time shopping for an affordable health plan, we will go over what you need to know […]

Medicare is a federal health insurance program available to those 65 years or older and adults with disabilities. Medicare is split into four parts:  A – hospital insurance B – physician/outpatient services C – Medicare provided by private insurance companies D – prescription drug coverage  If you need help affording Medicare in Texas, you have options. The state offers four […]

The County Indigent Health Care Program helps low-income Texas residents who don’t qualify for other state or federal health care programs have access to health care services. An indigent patient is a patient whose health insurance coverage, if any, does not provide full coverage for all their medical expenses and that their medical expenses, in relationship to their income.   Benefits […]

Our financial assistance and public benefits advocates help low-income families access nutritional, financial, and income-support benefits. We can help with  Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the program formerly known as Food Stamps Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Social Security County Indigent Healthcare Unemployment Insurance Medicare/Medicaid Discrimination in government programs for race, national origin, sex, pregnancy, […]

Workplace violence (WPV) is any act or threat of violence, harassment, intimidation, or disruptive behavior that occurs in a workplace. Hospitals and health systems have vigorous protocols to detect violence against their staff. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the health care field has seen an increase in workplace violence and studies show rates will not be receding anytime […]