An official State of Texas website.
Revision 20-0; Effective November 2019
2110 General Principles
Revision 23-4; Effective Sept. 22, 2023
A person must live in the Texas county in which they apply. There is no durational requirement for residency.
An inmate in a county correctional facility, who is a resident of another Texas county, would not be required to apply for assistance from the county they live in. They can apply for assistance in the county where they are incarcerated.
A person is a county resident if the person’s home or fixed place of habitation is in the county where they are applying for assistance and the person intends to return to the county after any temporary absences.
A person with no fixed residence, or a new resident in the county who states their intent to remain in the county, is also considered a county resident.
A person does not lose residency status because of a temporary absence from the county. No time limits are placed on a person’s absence from the county.
A person cannot qualify for CIHCP from more than one county simultaneously.
Persons Not Considered Residents:
- an inmate or resident of a state supported living center or institution operated by any state agency;
- an inmate, patient or resident of a school or institution operated by a federal agency;
- a minor student primarily supported by their parents whose home residence is in another county or state; and
- a person who moved into the county solely to obtain health care assistance.
Presumptive Eligibility
CIHCP emphasizes the importance of clients receiving primary and preventive care services. The goal of CIHCP is to ensure that Texas residents in need who do not qualify for other state or federal health care assistance programs receive health care services.
An applicant’s medical needs shall be met quickly and appropriately using available resources in the community.
Presumptive eligibility is the short-term availability and access to health care services (up to 90 days) when the client appears to potentially be eligible for services but lacks verification to achieve full eligibility. For clients who are determined to be fully eligible during the presumptive period, the eligibility expiration date will include the days of presumptive eligibility (expiration date is 365 days beginning the first date of eligibility determination).
When full eligibility is granted during or at the end of the 90 days, the eligibility period end date is 12 months from the presumptive eligibility start date. The program coordinator or administrator may waive the requirement to submit the eligibility documentation and approve full eligibility on a case-by-case basis, if the CIHCP determines submitting the documentation will create a barrier to care and no other documentation is available.
2120 Verifying Residence
Revision 20-0; Effective November 2019
Residency may be verified, if it is questionable. Proof may include, but is not limited to:
- Mail addressed to the applicant, spouse or children;
- Texas driver license or other official identification;
- Rent, mortgage payment or utility receipt;
- Property tax receipt;
- Voting record;
- School enrollment records; and
- Statement from a landlord, neighbor or other reliable source.
2130 Documenting Residence
Revision 20-0; Effective November 2019
On Form 3065, Worksheet, document why information regarding residence is questionable and how questionable residence is verified.