Senior benefits in Gregg County, Texas

Gregg County's energy bill help (CEAP) is run by Greater East Texas Community Action Program (GETCAP) in Nacogdoches. It provides a usually one-time payment toward utility, water and electric bills; the target groups are older adults, people with disabilities, households with children under six and working low-income families. Household income must be at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines. Call GETCAP at 800-621-5746 (Gregg County Community Action 903-758-5674) or the TDHCA CEAP line at 800-525-0657.

Estimated bill savings: $200–$1,600 a year

Gregg County operates a referral-and-coordination emergency aid framework: (1) TDHCA CEAP subrecipient for utility (800-525-0657); (2) ETCOG AAA for senior services (1-800-442-8845); (3) Gregg County CIHCP / UT Health East Texas / CHRISTUS Health for healthcare (903-236-8497); (4) GoBus for transportation (1-800-590-3371); (5) Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Tyler; (6) Salvation Army Tyler or Longview. Dial 211 for general referrals.

Estimated bill savings: $100–$1,800 a year

The Gregg County Indigent Health Care Program (CIHCP) is required by Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 61 for low-income residents. Eligibility: Gregg County resident age 18+; household income less than 21% of the Federal Poverty Level; not Medicaid-eligible. Covers physician services, lab/x-ray, three prescriptions per month, and inpatient/outpatient hospital services through participating providers. PRIMARY HOSPITAL: CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Medical Center (Longview); Longview Regional Medical Center. UT Health East Texas (Tyler) and CHRISTUS Health (Tyler/Longview) are the regional tertiary referral hospitals — both offer their own Financial Assistance Programs for households above CIHCP threshold. Apply by calling Gregg County at 903-236-8497.

Estimated bill savings: $1,000–$18,000 a year

In this county: Gregg CIHCP at 21% FPL — very strict. CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Medical Center (Longview); Longview Regional Medical Center. UT Health East Texas (Tyler) is the tertiary referral; UT Health's Financial Assistance Policy provides broader 204-322% FPL coverage for households above CIHCP threshold.

ETCOG AAA serves Gregg County seniors age 60+ and their caregivers. Services include Information and Referral, Benefits Counseling (HICAP/SHIP Medicare), Case Management, Health Education, Senior Nutrition Programs (Congregate Meals + Home-Delivered Meals), Housing Repair, Caregiver Support, and Ombudsman Advocacy. Apply by calling 1-800-442-8845 or visiting easttexasaaa.org. Office: 3800 Stone Road, Kilgore TX 75662.

Estimated service value: $1,200–$4,500 a year

Gregg County is served by TWO transit operators: (1) LONGVIEW TRANSIT — the City of Longview's urban transit (fixed-route + ADA paratransit within Longview city limits); (2) GOBUS — the ETCOG-operated rural demand-response transit serving non-urbanized Gregg County plus 12 other East Texas counties. GoBus fares are $2/trip + $1/additional stop. Seniors 60+ qualify. Apply for Longview Transit ADA paratransit through the City of Longview; book GoBus rides at 1-800-590-3371 or gobustransit.com.

Estimated service value: $300–$2,200 a year

In this county: Longview Transit serves Longview city limits; GoBus covers non-urbanized Gregg.