Texas Medicaid and SNAP Backlog Swells as New Law Forces Frequent Reapplications

More than 200,000 Texans remain without Medicaid approval as the state’s processing speed fell after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) took effect. Under OBBBA, recipients must reapply every six months and demonstrate work or volunteer activity, a change that has driven the timely processing rate down to 65% from 81% a year earlier, with 211,000 applications still pending in August. The backlog has forced pregnant women such as Vanessa Melendez to miss early prenatal visits and families like Jessica Ballek’s to lose SNAP benefits, increasing reliance on safety-net hospitals and federally qualified health centers.

State officials cite the Texas Integrated Eligibility and Renewal System as functional, but staff shortages and antiquated technology hinder compliance with federal targets of 95% timely processing. Lawmakers face potential penalties of $700 million annually for SNAP errors and similar sanctions for Medicaid beginning in 2029, while critics argue the system cannot handle the added administrative load. Advocacy groups warn the delays could exacerbate rural hospital closures and broader health-care access problems across Texas.