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Who Qualifies for Home Health Care Financial Assistance in Colorado?
Date Updated: July 26, 2024
Written by:
Rachel Lustbader is a writer and editor with a background in healthcare and technology. Her work has been published on websites including HealthCare.com, BiteSizeBio.com, BetterHelp.com, Caring.com, and PayingforSeniorCare.com. She studied health science and public health at Boston University.
Both of Rachel’s grandmothers had very positive experiences in senior living communities, and Rachel saw firsthand the impact that kind, committed caregivers and community managers can have on seniors’ and their family members’ lives. With her work at Caring, Rachel hopes to help other families find communities, caregivers, and at-home products that benefit elderly loved ones and make life less stressful for family caregivers
In Colorado, individuals who qualify for the state’s Medicaid program, Health First Colorado, may also qualify for home health care financial assistance through a Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver. Those who qualify for In-Home Support Services (IHSS) may choose, manage and direct their caregivers alongside an agency.
What Are Colorado’s HCBS Waiver Options?
Colorado has two HCBS waiver options for adults seeking IHSS, including the Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) waiver and the Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (EBD) waiver. Each has its own unique eligibility requirements, but all participants must be enrolled in Health First Colorado.
The EBD waiver is the wider of the two programs, allowing eligible individuals to receive a range of assistance. To qualify, individuals must be over the age of 65 and demonstrate a significant functional impairment requiring assistance. Assistance is also available to those ages 18 to 64 with blindness, a disability or an HIV or AIDS diagnosis. Likewise, recipients must require long-term support services comparable to care from a nursing facility. Individuals must also meet strict financial eligibility guidelines. The CIH waiver is an additional Medicaid benefit that provides coverage for individuals with spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, multiple sclerosis and similar diagnoses that limit independent ambulation. It provides access to the same services covered through IHSS.
What Services Are Covered?
The services covered by the HCBS waiver depend on the needs of the recipient and are determined by a case manager from a home health or personal care agency certified in IHSS. Common IHSS-covered assistance includes:
- Personal care, such as assistance with activities of daily living.
- Homemaker services for instrumental activities of daily living.
- Health maintenance, such as skilled nursing and health-related activities.
IHSS also provides nurse supervision and around-the-clock backup services to cover unavailable caregivers.
Options for Individuals Exceeding the Health First Colorado Income Limits
Those who do not qualify for Health First Colorado may participate in the Health First Colorado Buy-In Program for Working Adults with Disabilities. This program allows individuals with disabilities to pay a percentage of their income for Medicaid coverage, including access to CIH and EBD waivers, as long as their income does not exceed 450% of the Federal Poverty Level.