Phylicia Benn /

Houston has one of the highest maternal mortality rates for Black women in the U.S… and nobody talks about it enough. 🚨
That’s exactly why I became a HUGE advocate for #homebirth.
After experiencing it myself, I can honestly say—it felt safer, calmer, and way more empowering than a hospital birth. And if you’ve had one, you already know… 👀
But here’s something I wish I knew sooner:
👉 Medicaid in Texas can help cover your birth
👉 The catch? You’ll likely need to deliver at a birthing center instead of at home
Honestly… I don’t mind it this time 😂
Because let’s be real—the cleanup after a home birth is NO joke.
Last time I paid $5000 ( and it was still cheaper than delivering at a hospital )  and covered up to six months postpartum care. But but since I make less money, I knew that I would get approved for Medicaid.  Check out the curated list below to see if you can find a birthing center near you! 


🏙️ Houston Area

  • The Birthing Place – (accept Medicaid) Houston
  • Texas Rose Birth Center –  (accept Medicaid) Houston
  • Full Circle Family Services – Houston (birth support + midwifery)
  • In Bloom Midwifery & Home Birth Services – (accept Medicaid) Pearland (serves Greater Houston)

👉 Houston has a mix of freestanding birth centers and midwifery practices supporting home and birth-center deliveries.


🏙️ Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW)

  • Grapevine Birthing Center – Grapevine
  • House of Birth – Sherman

👉 DFW has several options spread across suburbs rather than concentrated in Dallas proper.


🏙️ Austin & Central Texas

  • Austin Area Birthing Center (multiple locations: Austin & Cedar Park)
  • Birthwise Birth & Family Center – Austin
  • Natural Beginning Birth Center – Austin
  • Central Texas Birth Center – Georgetown
  • The Natural Birthing Center – Round Rock & Salado
  • Abundance Midwifery Service Birth Center – (accept Medicaid) Manor

👉 Austin is one of the most dense regions in Texas for birth centers, with multiple accredited facilities and midwife practices.


🏙️ East / Northeast Texas

  • Seedling Birth Center – Sulphur Springs


🏙️ North Texas (Texoma Region)

  • House of Birth – Sherman (serves Denison, McKinney, Gainesville, etc.)



⚠️ Important Reality About Medicaid & Birth Centers in Texas

  • Medicaid DOES cover birth center deliveries, but:
    • Only if the center is in-network with your specific Medicaid plan
    • Plans include STAR, STAR+PLUS, Superior, Community Health Choice, etc.
  • Coverage includes:
    • Prenatal care
    • Labor & delivery (birth center or hospital)
    • Postpartum care

👉 However:

  • Not all birth centers accept Medicaid due to reimbursement challenges
  • Some offer:
    • Sliding scale pricing
    • Payment plans
    • “Medicaid discounts” if out-of-network


🪪 Step-by-Step: How to Apply for Medicaid in Texas

1️⃣ Check if you qualify

In Texas, Medicaid eligibility depends on:

  • Income level
  • Household size
  • Pregnancy status

👉 If you’re pregnant, you may qualify under Medicaid for Pregnant Women Texas, which has higher income limitsthan standard Medicaid.

You can also use:

  • Your Texas Benefits (official eligibility screener)


2️⃣ Gather required documents

You’ll typically need:

  • ID (driver’s license, passport, or other photo ID)
  • Social Security number (if available)
  • Proof of income (pay stubs, employer letter)
  • Proof of pregnancy (doctor or clinic note)
  • Proof of Texas residency (utility bill, lease, etc.)

👉 Don’t delay applying if you’re missing something—you can often submit documents later.


3️⃣ Apply (choose one method)

💻 Online (fastest)

  • Go to YourTexasBenefits.com application portal
  • Create an account
  • Fill out and submit your application


📱 Mobile app

  • Download the Your Texas Benefits app
  • Apply, upload documents, and track status


☎️ By phone

  • Call Texas Health and Human Services Commission at 2-1-1 (Option 2)
  • They can help you apply or mail a form


🏢 In person

  • Visit a local HHSC benefits office
  • Staff can help you apply on-site


📝 By mail

  • Download and print the application from Your Texas Benefits
  • Mail it to the address listed on the form


4️⃣ Complete an interview (if required)

  • Some applicants must do a phone interview
  • Many pregnancy Medicaid applications are processed without one


5️⃣ Submit verification documents

If requested, upload or send:

  • Income proof
  • Pregnancy verification
  • Identity documents

You can upload them via:

  • Your Texas Benefits portal/app
  • Fax or mail


6️⃣ Wait for approval

  • Typically takes 15–45 days
  • Pregnancy Medicaid is often processed faster

👉 You’ll receive:

  • Approval letter
  • Medicaid ID number
  • Managed care plan options


7️⃣ Choose a health plan

Once approved, you’ll pick a plan like:

  • Superior HealthPlan
  • Community Health Choice
  • Molina Healthcare

👉 This matters because your birth center must accept your specific plan


8️⃣ Start using benefits

Medicaid covers:

  • Prenatal visits
  • Lab work & ultrasounds
  • Labor & delivery (hospital or birth center if in-network)
  • Postpartum care


⏱️ Tips to Get Approved Faster

  • Apply as soon as you know you’re pregnant
  • Upload documents right away
  • Answer calls from HHSC (they may be verifying info)
  • Use the app for real-time updates


🤰 Extra Programs You May Qualify For

  • CHIP Perinatal (if you don’t qualify for Medicaid)
  • WIC Texas (food + nutrition support during pregnancy)


 

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