Home care
About 650,000 people are on waiting lists for Medicaid home and community services
Waits for Medicaid-funded in-home help can stretch for years in some states, KCUR reports. Getting on a waitlist early — even before you need care — can make a real difference, including in New York.
Key facts
- About 650,000 people nationwide are on waiting lists for Medicaid home and community-based services, according to KFF data reported by KCUR.
- That is up 7% from 2025.
- Iowa's health and disability waiver list had 13,196 people as of October.
What happened
KCUR reported on October 21 that about 650,000 people nationwide are on waiting lists for Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) waivers, according to a KFF survey for fiscal 2026, up 7% from 2025.
Kansas' largest list, for its intellectual and developmental disability waiver, has more than 5,000 people. Iowa's health and disability waiver list had 13,196 people as of October. Nebraska recently eliminated its I/DD waiting list with about $18 million in state funds plus a federal match.
What it means for families
Medicaid waivers pay for help at home that keeps people out of nursing homes, but slots are limited in many states. New York has its own version: the NHTD waiver has reached its enrollment cap. Applying early and having a backup plan matters.
For example: a family whose father has started to need help bathing and dressing might wait to apply until a crisis, like a fall or a hospital stay. If the state's program has a waiting list, that delay can mean months or years without paid help at home. Applying early puts the family in line sooner, even if they don't need the full service yet.
What this means in New York: the New York State Bar Association's Elder Law Section says the state's Nursing Home Transition and Diversion (NHTD) waiver has reached its enrollment cap of 14,079. A bill, S.9573/A.11569, would require regional waiting lists; it awaits the Governor's decision.
Quick answers
How many people are on Medicaid home and community services waiting lists?
KCUR reported on October 21 that about 650,000 people nationwide are on waiting lists for Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) waivers, according to a KFF survey for fiscal 2026, up 7% from 2025.
What to do this week
- If a parent may need help at home in the next year, ask about waiver programs now rather than in a crisis.
- If you are told there is a waiting list, ask how you'll be notified and what other services are available meanwhile.
- Keep copies of every application and the date you submitted it.
- In New York, if a parent may need NHTD services, ask the regional resource development center how the current cap affects new applicants.
Sources
More from Home care
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