Relating to establishing the Texas Care Plan Medicaid buy-in program to provide health benefit plan coverage to certain persons in this state.

HB 5311 establishes the Texas Care Plan Medicaid buy-in program, allowing certain low-income Texans who currently don't qualify for regular Medicaid to purchase health coverage through a Medicaid-managed care plan. The program requires participants to meet income limits, be ineligible for standard Medicaid, and not have affordable employer-sponsored coverage, with premiums paid on a sliding scale based on household income. It leverages federal funding under the Affordable Care Act and mirrors existing Medicaid buy-in programs but excludes nonemergency transportation services. The bill directs the Health and Human Services Commission to seek a federal waiver to implement the program, which would become effective after April 1, 2025.