Finding affordable support for an older family member can bring up a lot of questions at once. For many Abilene families, the Texas STAR+PLUS Waiver may be part of the conversation, especially when a loved one needs help with daily routines but wants to remain in a community setting.
One important note: the Texas STAR program is often confused with STAR+PLUS. STAR generally serves children, pregnant women, and families. STAR+PLUS is the Texas Medicaid waiver for seniors and adults living with disabilities that may help with long-term services and supports, including certain assisted living benefits.
Families often search for the Texas STAR waiver program for assisted living, but in most senior living conversations, the program to know is STAR+PLUS. It's a Medicaid managed care program for adults age 65 and older and adults with disabilities.
STAR+PLUS can help eligible Texans receive support in community-based settings rather than moving directly into a nursing community. For older adults in Abilene, that may include services connected to assisted living, depending on eligibility, availability, and the approved service plan.
Texas STAR Medicaid waiver eligibility is different from STAR+PLUS eligibility. STAR is usually for children, pregnant women, and low-income families. STAR+PLUS is generally for older adults and adults with disabilities who meet Medicaid and long-term services criteria.
Eligibility may depend on:
Because limits and requirements can change, families should confirm current guidelines through Texas Health and Human Services or Your Texas Benefits before making financial decisions. A benefits counselor, Medicaid planning professional or local Health and Human Services office can also help clarify next steps.
If you're wondering how to apply to the Texas STAR program, the first step is usually a Medicaid application through YourTexasBenefits.com, by phone through 2-1-1, by mail, or through a local Health and Human Services office.
For older adults seeking STAR+PLUS or Home and Community-Based Services, families may need to provide:
After the application is reviewed, eligible individuals may be asked to choose a managed care organization in their service area. The health plan then helps coordinate approved services.
Processing times can vary, so it helps to gather documents before applying. Families comparing options in Abilene may also want to ask whether a community has Medicaid waiver availability before assuming benefits can be used there.
STAR waiver assisted living benefits are usually discussed under STAR+PLUS for seniors. These benefits aren't the same for every person. They depend on the approved care plan, Medicaid eligibility, and the services available through the chosen managed care organization.
In assisted living, STAR+PLUS may help with approved long-term services and supports. Families should ask clear questions about what Medicaid may cover, what remains private pay, and whether room and board costs still apply.
At Morada Abilene, Assisted Living is for older adults who need support with daily routines while still enjoying a welcoming community lifestyle. Our community’s amenities include restaurant-style meals with table service, scheduled courtesy transportation, weekly housekeeping with flat linen service, laundry support, an on-site beauty salon, a well-stocked library, a landscaped courtyard, and small-pet-friendly living.
Those everyday details matter. For many families, affordability is important, but so is knowing their loved one can enjoy good meals, friendly people, and practical support close to familiar Abilene places.
A Medicaid waiver can help with cost planning, but choosing a community is still personal. Families often want a place that feels approachable, familiar, and connected to the area.
Morada Abilene is located near local shopping, dining, and the downtown district. Our community also highlights chauffeured transportation, outings, and Abilene-area connections such as the West Texas Fair and Rodeo, the Grace Museum, Paramount Theatre, and Dyess Air Force Base.
For residents, daily life may include:
That combination can make the move feel less like giving something up and more like making daily life easier.
No. STAR generally serves children, pregnant women and families. STAR+PLUS serves adults age 65 and older and adults with disabilities who qualify for Medicaid-managed care and long-term services and supports.
It may help with approved long-term services and supports in certain assisted living settings. Coverage depends on eligibility, the approved service plan, the managed care organization and community availability.
Morada Abilene states that it accepts Medicaid STAR+PLUS waivers, with limited availability. Families should contact the community directly to ask about current openings, covered services and what costs may remain private pay.
Ask whether the older adult may qualify financially and medically, what documents are needed, whether there is a wait or limited availability, and how room, board and care-related costs are handled.
Understanding the difference between STAR and STAR+PLUS can save families time and confusion. STAR may be the right search term for children and families, but qualifying for the STAR waiver in Texas for senior living usually means looking at STAR+PLUS and Medicaid long-term services and supports.
For Abilene families, the next step is to confirm current eligibility, gather documents and compare community options carefully. Morada Abilene offers Assisted Living, Medicaid Waiver Assistance and a practical, welcoming setting with homestyle meals, transportation, housekeeping and local connection.