Elderly waiver programs

Who provides long-term care? Plan Personal planning Financial planning How much will my care cost What does my existing insurance cover Housing planning How do I stay at home and age in place When I need to move where can I move Advance care planning Honoring Choices Take action Planning for long term care under age 40 Planning for long term care between ages 40 and 60 Planning for long term care if you are between 60 and 70 years of age Planning for long term care needs if you are over age 70 Pay What programs do not pay for long-term care?

What financing options might be best for me? Elderly waiver. Program info Eligibility Services Apply. Program info The Elderly Waiver EW program provides home and community-based services for people who need the level of care provided in a nursing home but who choose to live in the community.

More details are in the following brochures: Seniors can get help paying for services to stay in their homes PDF Elderly Waiver services in assisted living: What you need to know PDF Eligibility To qualify, you must: Be age 65 or older Be eligible for Medical Assistance Need nursing home level of care as determined by the Long-Term Care Consultation process Need services that Elderly Waiver can provide for less than the cost of care in a nursing home.

There are still people living in state institutions today. And, it has been questioned as to whether states violate the Americans with Disabilities Act ADA when they limit the number of participants to home and community based waiver programs. However, states chose to participate in these programs. Our best hope is to get statutes changed at the federal level. Forty-four 44 states and the District of Columbia have received waivers to provide home- and community-based services to people with developmental disabilities DD.

Depending on each state's DD definition, these waivers may cover services to people with autism. If you are receiving Medicaid Waiver services, your waiver services will not transfer other states.

You will still be eligible for Medicaid State Plan services after establishing residency, but waiver services do not transfer from state to state. If you decide to move to another state, you should know that many states have thousands of individuals on a list already waiting to receive waiver services.

In most cases, you will not be placed in line in front of these other individuals, so it would be best to consider what services you currently have in place and decide if you can do without them if you move. In some states, it will most likely be several years before services would begin. Colorado, Indiana, Maryland, and Wisconsin have waivers specifically addressing autism. They all limit waiver services to children.

The first three states' waivers are only for children with autism. Wisconsin provides intensive in-home autism treatment under two broader waivers, one for children with DD and the other for children with social and emotional disorders. In Indiana and Wisconsin, children eligible for autism-specific services are also eligible for services under other Medicaid waivers. Some states have waiting lists in excess of ten years.

For insurance coverage starting in , the proposed Open Enrollment Period is November 1, —December 15, Individuals may also qualify for Special Enrollment Periods outside of Open Enrollment if they experience certain events. Prior to , the Federal Medicaid program paid for services only if a person lived in an institution. The approval of Federal Medicaid Waiver programs allowed states to provide services to consumers in their homes and in their communities.

Disclaimer: This guide is provided for informational purposes only.