What's a Medicaid Waiver?

I get this question from parents a lot. So let's start with Medicaid, just in case you're unfamiliar. Medicaid is a federally and state-funded program that pays for medical care for low-income people, and also for disabled people who are eligible for specific programs. Colorado’s Medicaid program is called Health First Colorado. In order to qualify, individuals and households must fall below certain income levels.

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A Medicaid waiver enables disabled people and their families to qualify for Medicaid benefits by ‘waiving’ Medicaid’s typical income restrictions. With a waiver, household income is no longer a factor. Only the income and assets of the disabled person are considered for eligibility.

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Regardless of your income, getting your disabled child on a waiver is a life-transforming opportunity that offers medical coverage, service benefits and caregiver income opportunities. With services that support your child's health, education, employment and even living assistance, you'll set your child up for future success. Waivers also ensure that your child has a life-long safety net, no matter what happens to the parents.

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I know firsthand that being the parent of a disabled child can be exhausting, so hear this... many waiver services benefit YOU! That's right, parents can access respite services that help them manage their child and free up their time. Imagine gaining more personal time to focus on your career, social life, self-care or hobbies!

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Waivers sound awesome! So, what's the catch?

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The application process to get a Medicaid waiver is a broken mess. It's hard to navigate and you typically won't get much help from your case management agency. I learned the hard way that the system is complex and confusing. Many parents who try to apply for a waiver give up in confusion and frustration. After I spent years figuring out how to navigate the system, I realized that the disability community deserves better. NDC's courses are for YOU.

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Our online self-paced video training courses will teach you to successfully apply for – and fully maximize – the Medicaid benefits your disabled child may be eligible to receive. Plus, if you live in Metro Denver or Boulder, Colorado, funding may be available to cover the cost. But even if you self-pay, the benefits you'll receive in return are well worth the expense!

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So even if you tried to apply for a waiver and gave up, it's never too late to start enjoying waiver benefits that may be available for the rest of your disabled child's life. And if you already got a waiver, congratulations - that's a BIG achievement! No matter where you're at, we can help you apply for a waiver, or learn how to access and optimize all the services you need from your existing waiver. As the badass of Colorado's disability system, I'm here to serve you!

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FEATURED VODCAST: EVAN GALLENA

Maureen interviews education expert and non-attorney advocate, Evan Gallena of GPS Education Consulting and asks thought-provoking questions about how parents can best navigate the educational system to support a disabled child’s success. Evan has a lot to say! Watch the video for insights into how to help your child!