The Basics

A Medicaid waiver is a Georgia Medicaid program that includes an extra set of Medicaid benefits to help people if they have extra needs related to their disability and living situation. If you qualify, these benefits help you live in the community, either in your own home or in a supported living environment, rather than in an institution like a nursing home. They are also called Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver programs.

Medicaid waiver programs have a higher income limit than the usual Medicaid income limit. That means that if you make too much money to qualify for regular Medicaid, you might still qualify for a Medicaid waiver if you meet its other eligibility requirements.

Georgia has four different waiver programs. Each program has its own set of extra services that it offers and its own eligibility rules. There are often waiting lists for waivers, which means that even if you are potentially eligible for a waiver program, you might not get access to its services right away.

The four Medicaid waiver programs in Georgia are:

• The Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP), which is for people who are 65 or older or have a physical disability and need a level of care normally provided in a nursing home.
• The Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP), which is for adults who have severe physical disabilities or a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and need a level of care normally provided in a nursing home or hospital.
• The New Options Waiver Program (NOW), which is for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities who need a level of care normally provided in an intermediate care facility.
• The Comprehensive Supports Waiver Program (COMP), which is for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities who need more intensive care than those in the NOW program.

All of these waivers are meant to help people live in the community by offering benefits and services that help with health and independence. As such, they can help you if you:

• Live in a long-term care facility and want to move into your home
• Are recently disabled and are leaving the hospital or rehabilitation center, or
• Live at home and need more services to stay in the community.

The exact services you get depend on the waiver and can include adaptive equipment and technology, personal care, counseling, supported employment, and more. Medicaid waiver programs also include the full range of other benefits offered by Medicaid, including visits to the doctor, preventive care, hospital services, lab tests, emergency care, and prescription drug coverage.

Learn more about the different types of waivers.