What’s a Medicaid Waiver?

I get this question from parents a lot. So first, 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.

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

Regardless of your income, getting your disabled child on a waiver is a life-transforming godsend 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.

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 take advantage of services that help them manage their child and free them up. Imagine if you could gain more personal time, the ability to focus on work, and increased financial stability!

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

The application process to get a Medicaid waiver is a big, 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: the system works against you, not for you. 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 two courses are for YOU.

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 entitled to. Plus, depending where you live in Colorado, scholarships or funding may be available to cover the cost. But even if you self-pay, the life-long benefits you'll receive in return are absolutely priceless!

So even if you tried to apply for a waiver and gave up, it's never too late to start enjoying waiver benefits 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 to take full advantage of the one you already have. As the Badass of Colorado's disability system, I'm here to serve you!