FirstCare STAR Program
Welcome to FirstCare STAR
Our goal is to give you quality care and a great network of doctors, specialists and hospitals. STAR members receive Medicaid health care benefits, including Texas Health Steps (THSteps) medical and dental checkups. For more details, call THSteps toll-free at 1-877-847-8377 or visit the
THSteps website.
If you are not a member and you have questions about Medicaid, visit
www.yourtexasbenefits.com to learn more. For help with choosing a Medicaid plan, call the STAR helpline at 1-800-964-2777, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. TTY users call 1-800-735-2989.
What is STAR?
STAR is a Medicaid program for low-income families, children, and pregnant women. When you join STAR, you pick a primary care provider (PCP) to manage your health care and treatment. You can pick any PCP in FirstCare’s STAR network. Your PCP can be a family doctor, general practitioner, obstetrician/gynecologist, internist, pediatrician, or a clinic.
How to Choose a Primary Care Provider
Your Primary Care Provider (PCP) must be a FirstCare STAR provider: To find a participating provider, you can do one of the following:
- Search our Online Provider Directory.
- Search the FirstCare STAR Provider Directory:
- Call FirstCare STAR Customer Service at 1-800-431-7798.
When you fill out your Enrollment Form, list the PCP you have chosen. There is a space on the form for the name and provider number. Your PCP will be the doctor in charge of your health care. Visiting the same doctor for checkups and when you are sick can help your doctor keep an eye on your health. You can go to a family planning, OB/GYN, behavioral health, and/or other health care provider. You do not need a referral by a PCP.
How to Change your Primary Care Provider
If you are unhappy with your current PCP, please call the FirstCare Customer Service department toll-free at 1-800-431-7798.
STAR Benefits
Below is a list of some of the health benefits you get with STAR:
- Unlimited prescriptions
- Doctor and clinic visits
- X-rays and lab tests
- Emergency and hospital care
- Eye exams and glasses
- Medical supplies and equipment
- Care for mental health, drug, or alcohol problems
- Family planning counseling and education
- Pregnancy and childbirth care
- Speech therapy
- Occupational therapy
How do I access covered services?
What should I do if I have an emergency?
To access covered services, call FirstCare STAR Customer Service at 1-800-431-7798. If you are having an emergency and need immediate medical care, go to the nearest Emergency Room (ER) or call 9-1-1. If you do not have life threatening injuries or symptoms or do not need immediate medical care, call your PCP first. Your doctor can help you and give you advice.
Medical Transportation Program (MTP)
Medicaid can help you get a free ride or give you gas money to get to your children’s checkups. Call toll-free 1-877-633-8747 (1-877-MED-TRIP).
How do I replace my ID card if it is lost or stolen?
If you need to replace your ID cards, call FirstCare Customer Service toll-free at 1-800-431-7798 and we can assist you.
Member Portal
FirstCare members have access to our online Member Portal. Here, you can look up your claims, view your benefits and find important plan documents.
Frequently Asked Questions about Medicaid Transition
I received a letter that my Medicaid changed (or may change), what does this mean?
- Starting February 2021, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) will transition Medicaid clients to the appropriate type of Medicaid coverage on an ongoing basis when there is an identified change in circumstance.
- If HHSC receives information that your household has a change in circumstances (such as income, expenses, people in the household, etc.) they will move you to the appropriate type of Medicaid coverage based on the eligibility criteria your household meets.
- This does not necessarily mean you will have a reduction in coverage.
- Review the notice for any requests to take action. If the letter is asking for you to take any action, please comply with this request as soon as possible.
I received a letter that I need to select a new health plan, what does this mean?
Ask you received an actual enrollment form or alert via text/E-mail to select a new plan HHSC will send you either a separate enrollment form if it is determined that you need to pick a new health plan. If this is necessary, you should receive this request within 15 calendar days of the date on the TF0001 Notice about your case.
You received notice to select a new health plan.
- HHSC has determined that your new Medicaid program requires you to pick a health plan.
- If you know what plan you want to pick, go ahead and do so and return the form.
- If you need further assistance, HHSC Managed Care can assist. Managed Care hours of operations are 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday.
What might make HHSC change my type of Medicaid?
- HHSC looks at the following information to determine what the appropriate type of Medicaid is for the client:
- Renewal applications.
- Reported changes.
- Information received from other agencies, such as the Social Security Administration.
Will I continue to keep my Medicaid during COVID?
- Yes, Medicaid coverage will continue for anyone who has coverage during the federal declared public health emergency.
- The only exceptions could be:
- Clients who move out of Texas.
- Clients who voluntarily leave/withdraw from Medicaid.
- Deceased clients.
- However, if you have received a notice that you are no longer eligible for Medicaid, your coverage may end at the end of the public health emergency.
- Clients may receive notice on their TF0001 that their Medicaid eligibility/coverage will end with the public health emergency ends.
- This will happen for one of the following reasons:
- The household failed to respond to a request from HHSC like a renewal packet or H1020 Request for Missing Information, or
- HHSC received information via a renewal packet, reported change, or from another agency that indicates the household no longer meets the eligibility requirements.
Could my Medicaid or Health Plan change during COVID?
- Yes, If HHSC receives information that a client no longer meets the criteria for their current type of Medicaid coverage, but
- DOES meet the criteria for a different type of Medicaid coverage, they will be moved to that type of Medicaid coverage, if it provides the same (or a better) level of coverage.
- DOES NOT meet the criteria for any other type of Medicaid coverage, they will continue in their same type of Medicaid coverage until the federally-declared public health emergency ends or federal guidance changes.
- The only exceptions are Healthy Texas Women (HTW), Community Attendant Services (CAS), and CHIP.
- Medicaid clients will not be transitioned to any of these programs from another health care program during the public health emergency.
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