El Paso Senior AdvisorWhat should we plan before moving a parent to El Paso?
Decide on the care setting first, line up a licensed El Paso facility or home care agency, confirm Medicare or insurance coverage in Texas, transfer medical records and prescriptions, and update legal documents.
Tour by video if needed, but check each facility's TULIP record and penalties on our directory first.
How does Medicaid work when a parent moves to Texas?
Medicaid is state-based, so a parent must become a Texas resident and apply for Texas Medicaid; coverage from the old state ends, and STAR+PLUS may involve an interest list.
If your parent is on Medicaid now, plan the timing carefully to avoid gaps. A Texas elder law attorney can help.
What about Medicare when a parent moves to El Paso?
Original Medicare moves with the beneficiary, but Medicare Advantage and Part D plans are regional, so a move triggers a special enrollment period to choose an El Paso plan.
HICAP at 1-800-252-9240 can help compare El Paso plans for free.
What should a newcomer know about El Paso?
El Paso is on Mountain time, hot and dry in summer, bilingual, and divided by the Franklin Mountains into the West Side and the rest of the city; the right part of town is usually the one closest to the family member who will visit most.
Heat and altitude (about 3,700 feet) can affect older adults with heart or lung conditions; talk to a doctor before the move.
Are legal documents from another state valid in Texas?
Powers of attorney and advance directives signed in another state are often honored, but Texas has its own statutory forms, and updating them after the move avoids problems with banks and hospitals.
How do we choose an El Paso facility from out of state?
Narrow the list with our directory, read each facility's TULIP findings and penalties, ask for written prices, tour by video, and have a local relative or advisor visit in person before you sign.
Ask how the facility handles a new resident's first weeks, how it communicates with families far away, and which doctors visit residents. Arrange a primary care doctor in El Paso before the move.
Side by side
| A move to El Paso changes | A move to El Paso does not change | |
|---|---|---|
| Medicaid | The state program and application | Federal Medicare eligibility |
| Plans | Medicare Advantage and Part D options | Original Medicare coverage |
| Licenses | Facilities are Texas-licensed | The need to check records |
| Documents | Which forms banks expect | Your parent's wishes |
Sources: Texas Health and Safety Code chapters 142, 242 and 247; 26 Texas Administrative Code chapters 553, 554, 558 and 559; HHSC program handbooks; CareScout, CMS and VA rate tables, as cited above. See our editorial standards.
