What’s on This Page
One of the first things I learned as a special needs parent — and one of the hardest — is that getting your child on a Medicaid waiver waiting list isn’t the same as getting your child services. Not even close.
Across the country, more than 607,000 people with disabilities are waiting for home and community-based services through Medicaid waivers. Most of them have intellectual or developmental disabilities. Many of them are children. And in some states, the wait is measured not in months, but in decades.
The data on these waitlists exists — buried in government PDFs, legislative testimony, and policy surveys that most families will never find. I’ve compiled it all here: every state, every DD waiver program, every waitlist number I could verify, and what you can do right now while you wait.
This page is updated with 2025 data from the Kaiser Family Foundation’s annual HCBS survey, supplemented by individual state agency reports. If your state’s numbers have changed, let me know.
The Wait Nobody Talks About
When your child is diagnosed with a developmental disability, people give you a lot of advice. Apply for SSI. Look into special needs trusts. Talk to an attorney. All good advice. But almost nobody tells you the most urgent thing:
Get on your state’s Medicaid waiver waitlist today. Not next month. Today.
Here’s why. In Texas, more than 180,000 people are on waiver interest lists. The wait for HCS (Home and Community-based Services) runs 5 to 15 years. In North Carolina, families who put their child on the Innovations Waiver waiting list today may not receive services for 20 years. In New Mexico, the average wait is 12 to 16 years.
Meanwhile, in Arizona, there’s no waitlist at all. In Massachusetts, no waitlist. In Nebraska, the entire waitlist was eliminated in August 2025.
Same country. Same federal program. Completely different realities depending on which side of a state line you live on.
Why this matters for trust planning: If your state has a 10-year waiver waitlist, your child may spend a decade or more without Medicaid-funded home services. That makes financial planning through a special needs trust even more critical — because the trust may need to cover services that the waiver would otherwise provide. The longer the wait, the more important the plan.
National Snapshot (2025 Data)
607,000+
People on HCBS waitlists nationally
74%
Have intellectual or developmental disabilities
37 months
Average wait for I/DD services
17 states
Have no DD waiver waitlist
These numbers come from the Kaiser Family Foundation’s 2025 survey, the most comprehensive national dataset on HCBS waitlists. Every other source — The Arc, ANCOR, Congressional Research Service — cites KFF as their upstream data.
A note about the numbers: Six states (Florida, Iowa, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, and Texas) do not screen for eligibility before placing people on their waitlists. This means their “interest list” numbers are inflated — not everyone on the list would actually qualify for waiver services. Texas alone accounts for roughly 30% of the national total. When you see a state’s waitlist number, check whether they screen for eligibility. It matters.
All 50 States + DC at a Glance
This table shows every state’s DD waiver waitlist status. Scroll right on mobile to see all columns. States are sorted by waitlist size (largest first), with no-waitlist states at the bottom.
| State | DD Waiver(s) | Waitlist | Avg Wait | Screens? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | HCS, CLASS, TxHmL, DBMD, MDCP | 181,697 | 5–15 years | No |
| South Carolina | ID/RD, Community Supports | 37,139 | Not reported | No |
| Florida | iBudget | 22,621 | 7–15 years | No |
| North Carolina | Innovations | 18,000 | 9.5 years avg | Yes |
| Illinois | Adults with DD | 16,500 | ~44 months | Yes |
| Virginia | Building Independence, FIS, Community Living | 15,472 | Years (varies) | Yes |
| Louisiana | NOW, ROW, Supports, Children’s Choice | 14,586 | Not reported | Yes |
| Kentucky | Michelle P. Waiver, SCL | 13,026 | 8–10 years | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | Consolidated, Community Living, PFDS, Autism | 12,604 | 7+ years | Yes |
| Utah | Community Supports, Limited Supports | 12,096 | 5.4 years | Yes |
| Indiana | CIH, Family Supports | 9,453 | Multi-year | Yes |
| Wisconsin (children) | CLTS | 8,842 | Unknown | Yes |
| Georgia | NOW, COMP | 7,397 | Decades (100 slots/yr) | Yes |
| Iowa | ID Waiver | 7,147 | Up to 5 years | No |
| Kansas | I/DD Waiver | 4,706 | 3–4 years | Yes |
| Arkansas | CES Waiver | 4,500 | ~10 years | Yes |
| Maryland | Community Pathways | 3,302 | Multi-year | Yes |
| New Jersey | Community Care Program | 3,184 | Not reported | Yes |
| Mississippi | ID/DD Waiver | 2,496 | Not reported | Yes |
| Colorado | HCBS-DD | 2,345 | 10+ years | Yes |
| Maine | Section 21, Section 29 | 2,244 | Several years | Yes |
| Tennessee | ECF CHOICES | 2,182 | Not reported | Yes |
| Montana | 0208 Comprehensive | 2,095 | ~7 years | Yes |
| Connecticut (Autism) | Autism Waiver | 2,036 | 10+ years | Yes |
| Ohio | Individual Options, Level One, SELF | 1,887 | Varies by county | Yes |
| Alabama | ID Waiver, LAH, CWP | 1,848 | Several years | Yes |
| New Mexico | DD Waiver, Mi Via | 1,795 | 12–16 years | Yes |
| Oklahoma | Community, IHSW | 1,763 | ~1 year (was 13) | No |
| Missouri | Comprehensive, Community Support, Partnership for Hope | 1,272 | Varies | Yes |
| West Virginia | I/DD Waiver | 1,031 | Not reported | Yes |
| New York | OPWDD HCBS | 867 | N/A (med. fragile only) | Yes |
| Alaska | IDD, Individualized Supports | 721 | 14+ years implied | Yes |
| Nevada | IDD HCBS | 582 | Not reported | Yes |
| Wyoming | Comprehensive, Supports | 282 | 1–3 years | Yes |
| South Dakota | CHOICES | 185 | 1–2 years | Yes |
| North Dakota | IID/DD HCBS | 141 | Short | Yes |
| Nebraska | FSW, CDD, DDAD | Eliminated | None (Aug 2025) | — |
| Arizona | DDD/ALTCS | None | No wait | — |
| California | Regional Centers (Lanterman Act) | None | Entitlement | — |
| Delaware | DDDS Lifespan | None | No wait | — |
| DC | IDD, IFS | None* | Waitlist starting FY2026 | — |
| Hawaii | I/DD Waiver | None | No wait | — |
| Idaho | Adult DD Waiver | None | No wait | — |
| Massachusetts | Adult Supports, Community Living, Intensive Supports | None | No wait | — |
| Michigan | Habilitation Supports | ~0 | Minimal | — |
| Minnesota | DD Waiver, CADI, CAC | None | Eliminated 2016 | — |
| New Hampshire | DD Waiver | ~0 | Needs-based priority | — |
| New York | OPWDD HCBS | None (DD) | No DD wait | — |
| Oregon | Comprehensive, Support Services | None | Eliminated 2000 | — |
| Rhode Island | 1115 Global Waiver | None | Provider delays exist | — |
| Vermont | 1115 Global Commitment | None | Entitlement | — |
| Washington | IFS, Basic Plus, Core | ~0 | Minimal formal wait | — |
| Wisconsin (adults) | Family Care, IRIS | None | Entitlement | — |
Sources: KFF 2025 HCBS survey, individual state DD agency reports. “Screens” = whether the state verifies clinical/financial eligibility before waitlist placement. States that don’t screen have inflated numbers. New York appears twice: 867 for medically fragile children only; DD waiver has no waitlist.
States With No DD Waiver Waitlist
If you live in one of these states, your family can access DD waiver services without waiting years. This doesn’t mean the process is instant — eligibility determination, care planning, and provider matching all take time — but there is no funding-based waitlist standing between your child and services.
Entitlement States
These states guarantee services to all eligible individuals — there is a legal right to services:
- California — Lanterman Act entitlement. ~380,000 served through 21 Regional Centers
- Vermont — 1115 waiver entitlement. 4,731 served (FY25)
- Wisconsin (adults) — Family Care and IRIS are entitlement programs
No-Waitlist States
These states serve all eligible applicants, though not by legal entitlement:
- Arizona — Managed care model. 59,000+ served
- Delaware — ~1,650 enrolled
- Hawaii — 3,034 served (FY25)
- Idaho — No waitlist reported
- Massachusetts — ~32,000 served by DDS
- Michigan — Effectively zero wait
- Minnesota — Eliminated waitlist in 2016
- Nebraska — Eliminated August 2025
- New Hampshire — Needs-based priority
- New York — 100,000–130,000 served by OPWDD
- Oregon — No waitlist since 2000 lawsuit
- Rhode Island — 1115 waiver, no formal waitlist
- Washington — ~41,000 in paid services
DC families, take note: The District of Columbia has historically had no DD waiver waitlist. But due to FY2026 budget cuts — the DC Council removed $1.6 million in waiver funding — DDA has announced a waitlist beginning in FY2026 (October 2025). If you’re in DC and not yet enrolled, apply immediately.
No waitlist does not mean no challenges. Even in these states, families report delays in finding providers, getting assessments scheduled, and matching with the right services. Rhode Island, for example, has no funding waitlist but faces a severe Direct Support Professional shortage — 33% of provider organizations were still turning away people due to staffing in 2024. The slot exists, but the person to fill it may not.
States With the Longest Waits
These are the states where families face the most severe waitlist crises. If you live in one of these states, getting on the waitlist as early as possible is critical.
Texas — 181,697 on interest lists | 5–15 year wait
Texas has the largest waiver waitlist in the nation by a wide margin. The state operates multiple waivers — HCS (Home and Community-based Services), CLASS, TxHmL, DBMD, and MDCP — with the HCS waiver alone having nearly 68,000 on its interest list. Texas does not screen for eligibility before list placement, so the actual number of eligible individuals is lower, but the wait is still measured in years to over a decade.
How to get on the list: Contact your Local IDD Authority (LIDDA) for HCS/TxHmL. Call HHSC at 1-877-438-5658 for CLASS/DBMD/MDCP.
North Carolina — 18,000 waiting | 9.5 year average wait
North Carolina’s Innovations Waiver has approximately 18,000 people on the Registry of Unmet Needs, with an average wait of 9.5 years. For families registering today, the projected wait could exceed 20 years. About 12,500–14,000 people currently receive services.
How to get on the list: Contact your Local Management Entity/Managed Care Organization (LME/MCO) or call 1-855-262-1946.
New Mexico — 1,795 waiting | 12–16 year wait
New Mexico has a smaller waitlist than many states, but the longest per-person wait in the country: 12 to 16 years from eligibility determination to receiving DD Waiver services. The Mi Via self-directed option has a 10–12 year wait. About 7,849 people currently receive services across three waivers.
How to get on the list: Contact the Pre-Service Intake Bureau at 505-350-0034.
Florida — 22,621 waiting | 7–15 year wait
Florida’s iBudget Waiver has over 21,000 people on the pre-enrollment list. When contacted about openings, 32% of people had been waiting 10 or more years. About 35,000 individuals currently receive iBudget services. Florida does not screen for eligibility before placement.
How to get on the list: Contact the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) at 1-866-273-2273.
Kentucky — 13,026 waiting | 8–10 year wait
Kentucky’s Michelle P. Waiver waitlist is growing faster than new slots are being added. At one point, an analysis showed it would take 168 years to serve everyone at the current funding level. The state has allocated 750 new MPW slots over the current biennium, but with 13,000+ waiting, the math remains devastating.
How to get on the list: Call 502-564-1647 (option 4, then option 1).
Georgia — 7,900+ waiting | Only ~100 new slots per year
Georgia funds approximately 100 new waiver slots per year against a waitlist of nearly 8,000. The NOW (New Options Waiver) and COMP (Comprehensive Supports) waivers serve about 14,100 people. At the current funding rate, families face waits measured in decades.
How to get on the list: Apply through your DBHDD regional office.
Pennsylvania — 12,604 waiting | 7+ year wait
Pennsylvania uses a PUNS (Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services) system to triage its waitlist across four waivers: Consolidated, Community Living, PFDS, and Adult Autism. More than 10,000 people are categorized as having Emergency or Critical needs. The waitlist peaked at 24,500 in 2006 and has been slowly declining.
How to get on the list: Contact your local County MH/ID Office. ODP Customer Service: 1-888-565-9435.
Virginia — 15,472 waiting | Varies by priority level
Virginia operates three DD waivers with differing support levels: Building Independence, Family and Individual Supports, and Community Living. The state uses a priority system — about 3,000–3,500 are Priority 1 (need within 1 year). The 2024 General Assembly approved 3,440 new slots for the biennium, the largest single increase in state history.
How to get on the list: Contact your local Community Services Board (CSB).
States That Fixed It
Not every state is stuck. Some have dramatically reduced or eliminated their DD waiver waitlists — proof that this is a policy choice, not an inevitability.
Nebraska — Eliminated (August 2025)
In 15 months, Nebraska moved 3,000+ people off the DD waiver waitlist and into services. The governor’s office specifically celebrated this as a priority accomplishment. As of August 2025, there is no one waiting for DD waiver services in Nebraska.
Oklahoma — 13 Years to 1 Year
Oklahoma’s DD waiver wait dropped from 13 years to approximately 1 year. The state accelerated application processing and expanded funding. Of 6,300 who applied before October 2023, more than 2,600 are now receiving services.
Kansas — On Track to Eliminate
Bipartisan legislative action has rapidly reduced Kansas’s I/DD waitlist. Wait times dropped from 9 years to 3–4 years, and advocates project full elimination within 4 years at the current funding pace. Kansas is a model for what state-level advocacy can accomplish.
Maryland — End the Wait Act
Maryland passed the “End the Wait Act” (SB 636) in 2022, mandating a 50% reduction in the DD waiver waitlist by FY2028. The state is on track — waitlist numbers have declined significantly, and the former Family Supports and Community Supports waivers were consolidated into a streamlined Community Pathways program in October 2025.
Oregon — No Wait Since 2000
Oregon eliminated its DD waiver waitlist as part of a 2000 lawsuit settlement and has maintained no-waitlist status for over 25 years. About 11,000 people receive services across five waivers.
Minnesota — Eliminated 2016
Minnesota eliminated its DD waiver waitlist in 2016 and has maintained that status through strong county-based service coordination. Provider shortages remain a practical challenge, but no one waits for a funding slot.
The pattern is clear: waitlists are eliminated through legislative action (Kansas, Maryland, Nebraska), legal action (Oregon, Illinois under the Ligas Consent Decree), or structural redesign (Wisconsin’s entitlement model, California’s Lanterman Act). They are never eliminated by doing nothing.
What to Do While You Wait
If your state has a multi-year waitlist, don’t wait passively. There are concrete steps to take right now:
1. Apply for SSI and Medicaid Separately
Waiver services require Medicaid eligibility, but you don’t need the waiver to get Medicaid. Apply for SSI as soon as your child is eligible — SSI automatically qualifies for Medicaid in most states. This gets your child health coverage and establishes the benefits foundation you’ll need when a waiver slot opens.
2. Set Up a Special Needs Trust Now
Don’t wait for the waiver to start planning. A third-party special needs trust protects assets you leave for your child without affecting their benefit eligibility — including future waiver eligibility. If your child is on a 10-year waitlist, the trust may need to supplement services that the waiver would otherwise cover.
3. Open an ABLE Account
ABLE accounts let individuals with disabilities save up to $18,000 per year (2024) without affecting SSI or Medicaid eligibility. Unlike a trust, your child controls the ABLE account directly. Use it for disability-related expenses while waiting for waiver services. Learn how ABLE accounts work alongside trusts →
4. Check Your Life Insurance Beneficiary Designations
If your life insurance names your child with a disability as a direct beneficiary, an inheritance could disqualify them from the waiver when a slot finally opens — after waiting years. Make sure insurance proceeds are directed to the trust, not to your child directly. Use our beneficiary designation audit →
5. Get on Multiple Lists if Your State Has Multiple Waivers
Many states operate several waivers with separate waitlists. In Texas, you can be on the HCS, CLASS, and MDCP lists simultaneously. In Pennsylvania, you can register for all four waivers through the PUNS system. In New Jersey, you can receive Supports Program services while waiting for the Community Care Program. Ask your state DD agency about all available options.
6. Contact Your State Legislators
Every success story on this page — Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas, Maryland — happened because families and advocates pressured their state legislature to fund more waiver slots. The Arc chapter in your state can connect you with advocacy efforts. Individual stories from families carry more weight than statistics.
7. Explore Pooled Trust Programs
If your child receives a personal injury settlement, inheritance, or back-pay from benefits while waiting, a pooled special needs trust can protect those funds without affecting Medicaid eligibility. Your state page has details on pooled trust programs available in your area.
How Medicaid Waivers Work (Plain English)
If you’re new to this world, here’s what you need to know — without the jargon.
What is a Medicaid waiver?
Regular Medicaid covers doctor visits, prescriptions, and hospital stays. But it doesn’t cover the things many people with developmental disabilities need most: help at home, day programs, job coaching, respite care for families, or supported living arrangements.
A Medicaid waiver is a program where the federal government lets a state “waive” certain Medicaid rules so the state can use Medicaid funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) instead of only institutional care. The idea: it’s better (and usually cheaper) to support someone in their home or community than in a nursing home or institution.
Why is it called a “1915(c) waiver”?
Section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act is the federal law that authorizes these waivers. Most state DD waiver programs operate under this authority. Some states use an “1115 waiver” instead (a broader demonstration waiver) — Rhode Island, Vermont, and a few others. The services are similar; the legal mechanism is different.
Why are there waitlists?
Unlike regular Medicaid, HCBS waivers are not an entitlement in most states. Each state sets a cap on how many people its waiver can serve, based on available funding. When more people are eligible than the cap allows, a waiting list forms. States can request more slots from CMS (the federal Medicaid agency), but this requires state matching funds — which requires state legislative appropriation — which requires political will.
That’s why waitlists are fundamentally a funding decision, not a medical one. Everyone on the list has already been determined to need services. They’re waiting for their state to fund a slot.
What does “screening for eligibility” mean?
Some states verify that a person meets clinical and financial eligibility criteria before adding them to the waitlist. Other states (Texas, Florida, South Carolina, Iowa, Oklahoma) add anyone who expresses interest without checking eligibility first. This is why Texas shows 180,000+ on its “interest list” — only about 67% of those offered a slot actually qualify and accept services.
Coming in 2027: A new CMS rule (from the 2024 HCBS final rule) will require states to report waitlist data to the federal government annually starting July 2027. This will be the first time there’s an authoritative, standardized federal dataset on waiver waitlists. Until then, the KFF survey and individual state reports are the best available data.
What services do waivers cover?
Services vary by state and by waiver, but commonly include:
- Residential habilitation — Support for living in the community (group homes, supported apartments, host homes)
- Day habilitation / day programs — Structured daytime activities, skill-building
- Supported employment — Job coaching, workplace support
- Personal care / attendant services — Help with daily living activities
- Respite care — Temporary relief for family caregivers
- Behavioral support — Behavioral analysis, intervention plans
- Therapies — Occupational, physical, and speech therapy
- Assistive technology and home modifications — Equipment, ramps, environmental adaptations
- Transportation — Non-medical transportation to services
- Case management / support coordination — Someone to help navigate the system
State-by-State Details
Below is additional detail for each state with an active DD waiver waitlist. For states with no waitlist, see the no-waitlist section above. For full special needs trust information for any state, visit your state guide.
Alabama
Waivers: Intellectual Disabilities (ID) Waiver, Living at Home (LAH) Waiver, Community Waiver Program (CWP, 11 counties). Waitlist: 1,848. Wait: Several years. Currently served: ~5,260 (ID Waiver). Contact: Alabama Medicaid at 1-800-361-4491. Alabama SNT Guide →
Alaska
Waivers: IDD Waiver, Individualized Supports Waiver. Waitlist: 721. Wait: Only 50 people drawn from list annually — implied 14+ year wait. Currently served: ~1,900. Contact: Aging & Disability Resource Center at 1-877-625-2372. Alaska SNT Guide →
Arkansas
Waivers: Community and Employment Support (CES) Waiver. Waitlist: 1,632–4,500 (varies by source). Wait: ~10 years. Contact: Division of DD Services at 501-683-5687. Arkansas SNT Guide →
Colorado
Waivers: HCBS-DD (24-hour residential — only CO waiver with waitlist), HCBS-SLS (no wait), CHCBS (children, no wait). Waitlist: 2,345. Wait: 10+ years for HCBS-DD. Most people receive SLS services while waiting. Contact: Your local Community Centered Board (CCB). Colorado SNT Guide →
Connecticut
Waivers: DDS Comprehensive, Individual & Family Supports, Employment & Day Supports (all I/DD — 0 wait), plus separate Autism Waiver (2,036 waiting, 10+ years). Note: The Autism Waiver is managed by DSS, not DDS. Contact: DDS at 860-418-6000 (I/DD); DSS for Autism Waiver. Connecticut SNT Guide →
Florida
Waivers: iBudget Waiver. Waitlist: 21,471–22,621. Wait: 7–15 years (32% wait 10+). Currently served: ~35,000. Contact: Agency for Persons with Disabilities at 1-866-273-2273. Florida SNT Guide →
Georgia
Waivers: New Options Waiver (NOW), Comprehensive Supports (COMP). Waitlist: 7,397–7,900+. Wait: Decades at ~100 new slots/year. Currently served: ~14,100. Contact: DBHDD regional office. Georgia SNT Guide →
Illinois
Waivers: Adults with DD Waiver, Children/Young Adults with DD Waiver. Waitlist: ~16,500 (PUNS database). Wait: ~44 months (accelerating under Ligas Consent Decree). Contact: Local ISC agency or 1-888-DD-PLANS (337-5267). Illinois SNT Guide →
Indiana
Waivers: CIH, Family Supports. Waitlist: 9,453. Wait: Multi-year; both waivers hit capacity end of 2025, no new slots until July 2026. Contact: BDS Gateway portal (bddsgateway.fssa.in.gov). Indiana SNT Guide →
Iowa
Waivers: Intellectual Disability (ID) Waiver (plus BI, HD, CMH, PD waivers). Waitlist: 7,147 (screened) to 25,536 (unscreened). Wait: Up to 5 years. Note: Iowa is redesigning all six waivers into two age-based programs (target 2027). Contact: Your MCO or Iowa HHS. Iowa SNT Guide →
Kansas
Waivers: I/DD Waiver. Waitlist: 4,320–4,706. Wait: 3–4 years (down from 9). Contact: Your local CDDO or 1-855-200-2372. Kansas SNT Guide →
Kentucky
Waivers: Michelle P. Waiver (MPW), Supports for Community Living (SCL). Waitlist: 13,026. Wait: 8–10 years. Contact: 502-564-1647, option 4 then option 1. Kentucky SNT Guide →
Louisiana
Waivers: New Opportunities Waiver (NOW), Residential Options (ROW), Supports, Children’s Choice. Waitlist: 14,586. Wait: Not reported. Contact: Local Human Services District or OCDD. Louisiana SNT Guide →
Maine
Waivers: Section 21 (Comprehensive), Section 29 (Community Support). Waitlist: 2,244. Wait: Several years. Note: New Lifespan Waiver aims to eliminate waitlist within 5 years. Contact: HCBS.Waiver@maine.gov. Maine SNT Guide →
Maryland
Waivers: Community Pathways (consolidated Oct 2025). Waitlist: 3,302. Wait: Multi-year but declining under End the Wait Act. Contact: Maryland DDA. Maryland SNT Guide →
Mississippi
Waivers: ID/DD Waiver. Waitlist: 2,496–2,772. Wait: Not publicly reported. Contact: IDD Regional Program or 1-800-421-2408. Mississippi SNT Guide →
Missouri
Waivers: Comprehensive, Community Support, Partnership for Hope, MOCDD (children). Waitlist: 1,272. Wait: Varies by Priority of Need score. Currently served: ~12,000+. Contact: DMH Regional Office or 800-207-9329. Missouri SNT Guide →
Montana
Waivers: 0208 Comprehensive, Big Sky. Waitlist: 2,095 (I/DD). Wait: ~7 years (0208); ~125 days (Big Sky). Contact: DDP at 406-444-5978. Montana SNT Guide →
Nevada
Waivers: IDD HCBS Waiver. Waitlist: 582. Wait: Not reported. Currently served: 3,100+. Contact: ADSD Intake at 702-486-7850. Nevada SNT Guide →
New Jersey
Waivers: Community Care Program (CCP), Supports Program (available immediately). Waitlist: 2,700–3,184 (CCP only). Wait: Not reported. Note: Supports Program services are available while waiting for CCP. Contact: DDD.NJApply@dhs.nj.gov. New Jersey SNT Guide →
New Mexico
Waivers: DD Waiver, Mi Via (self-directed), Supports. Waitlist: 1,795. Wait: 12–16 years (DD), 10–12 years (Mi Via). Currently served: 7,849. Contact: Pre-Service Intake Bureau at 505-350-0034. New Mexico SNT Guide →
North Carolina
Waivers: Innovations Waiver. Waitlist: 15,000–18,000. Wait: 9.5 years average; 20+ for new registrants. Currently served: 12,500–14,000. Contact: Your LME/MCO or 1-855-262-1946. North Carolina SNT Guide →
North Dakota
Waivers: IID/DD HCBS Waiver. Waitlist: 141 (autism only). Wait: Short. Contact: DD Section at 701-328-8930 or 800-755-8529. North Dakota SNT Guide →
Ohio
Waivers: Individual Options (IO), Level One (L1), SELF. Waitlist: 1,887. Wait: Varies by county. Currently served: ~41,108 across three waivers. Contact: Your County Board of DD or 800-617-6733. Ohio SNT Guide →
Oklahoma
Waivers: Community, In-Home Supports (children/adults), Homeward Bound. Waitlist: 1,763. Wait: ~1 year (reduced from 13). Contact: DDS Area Office. Oklahoma SNT Guide →
Pennsylvania
Waivers: Consolidated, Community Living, PFDS, Adult Autism. Waitlist: 12,604. Wait: 7+ years. Note: 10,000+ in Emergency/Critical priority categories. Contact: County MH/ID Office or ODP at 1-888-565-9435. Pennsylvania SNT Guide →
South Carolina
Waivers: ID/RD Waiver, Community Supports. Waitlist: 37,139 total (unscreened interest list); 461 screened for ID/RD. Wait: Not reported. Contact: Local DSN Board or 1-800-289-7012. South Carolina SNT Guide →
South Dakota
Waivers: CHOICES, Family Support 360. Waitlist: 185. Wait: 1–2 years. Contact: 605-773-3438 or 800-265-9684. South Dakota SNT Guide →
Tennessee
Waivers: ECF CHOICES (Employment and Community First). Waitlist: 2,182–2,500. Wait: Not reported. Note: Governor proposed $36M to serve 2,500 more people. Contact: TennCare Self-Referral Form or Dept. of Disability and Aging. Tennessee SNT Guide →
Texas
Waivers: HCS, CLASS, TxHmL, DBMD, MDCP, STAR+PLUS. Waitlist: 181,697+ (unscreened interest lists). Wait: 5–15 years. Currently served: ~21,000. Contact: Your LIDDA (HCS/TxHmL) or HHSC at 1-877-438-5658 (CLASS/DBMD/MDCP). Texas SNT Guide →
Utah
Waivers: Community Supports, Limited Supports, ABI. Waitlist: 4,153–12,096 (varies by source). Wait: 5.4 years average. Currently served: 7,157. Contact: DSPD at 1-877-568-0084. Utah SNT Guide →
Virginia
Waivers: Building Independence (BI), Family & Individual Supports (FIS), Community Living (CL). Waitlist: 14,168–15,472. Wait: Years (varies by priority). Note: 3,440 new slots approved for biennium. Contact: Your local Community Services Board. Virginia SNT Guide →
West Virginia
Waivers: I/DD Waiver. Waitlist: 1,031. Wait: Not publicly reported. Note: Doubled in 18 months; 76% are children. Waitlist Support Grant available while waiting. Contact: Acentra Health at 304-356-4904 or WVIDDWaiver@acentra.com. West Virginia SNT Guide →
Wisconsin (children)
Waivers: Children’s Long-Term Support (CLTS). Waitlist: ~8,842–9,000. Wait: Unknown. Note: Adults are served through Family Care/IRIS entitlement programs with no waitlist. Contact: Your local Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC). Wisconsin SNT Guide →
Wyoming
Waivers: Comprehensive, Supports. Waitlist: 231 adults + 302 children. Wait: Adults: 3 years avg. Children: 1 year avg. Contact: HCBS Section at health.wyo.gov. Wyoming SNT Guide →
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get on the Medicaid waiver waitlist in my state?
Contact your state’s developmental disabilities agency. In most states, this means calling your local DD office, Community Services Board, or County Board of DD. The table above lists specific contact information for each state. You don’t need an attorney to apply — the process starts with a phone call.
Can I be on the waitlist in more than one state?
Generally, you must be a resident of the state whose waitlist you’re on. Medicaid is state-based, and waiver programs require state residency. If you move, you’ll need to apply in your new state — and you’ll typically start at the back of that state’s waitlist. This is one of the most painful aspects of the system for military families and others who relocate.
Does being on the waitlist give my child Medicaid coverage?
No. The waiver waitlist is separate from Medicaid enrollment. You should apply for Medicaid (usually through SSI) independently. Many people on waiver waitlists already have Medicaid — they’re waiting for the additional home and community-based services the waiver provides, not for basic health coverage.
Will a special needs trust affect my child’s waiver eligibility?
A properly drafted third-party special needs trust does not count as an asset for Medicaid or waiver eligibility purposes. This is one of the core reasons trusts exist — to supplement government benefits without replacing them. However, money paid directly to your child (not through a trust) can affect eligibility. Learn more in your state’s SNT guide.
How often is this data updated?
The KFF conducts its HCBS survey annually, typically publishing data in the fall. Individual state agencies update their numbers on varying schedules — some monthly, some quarterly, some only in legislative reports. Starting in July 2027, a new CMS rule will require standardized annual reporting from all states. We review and update this page at least annually.
What’s the difference between a “waitlist” and an “interest list”?
A waitlist typically means the person has been screened for eligibility and is waiting for a funded slot. An interest list means anyone can sign up without proving eligibility — the list is longer but includes people who may not qualify. Texas, Florida, South Carolina, Iowa, and Oklahoma use interest lists, which is why their numbers appear much larger. Both are worth getting on immediately.
Sources & Methodology
This page compiles data from the following sources, verified as of February 2026:
- Kaiser Family Foundation: HCBS Waiting Lists 2016–2025 (primary national data source)
- Case for Inclusion (ANCOR/UCP state scorecards)
- MACPAC: State Management of HCBS Waiver Waiting Lists
- Individual state DD agency websites and legislative reports (cited per state in our research documentation)
Where state-reported numbers differ from KFF data, both figures are noted. Some state data may reflect slightly different reporting periods.
| Related Guide | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Find Your State Guide | State-specific trust rules, costs, pooled trust programs, and local resources |
| ABLE vs. Special Needs Trust | When to use an ABLE account, when to use a trust, and how they work together |
| Beneficiary Designation Audit | Check whether your life insurance, retirement accounts, and other assets are set up correctly |
| Sibling Planning Guide | Having the conversation, choosing trustees, and protecting family relationships |
| Life Insurance & Special Needs Trusts | How to use life insurance to fund your child’s trust |
| Find a Special Needs Attorney | State-specific attorney directories and what to look for |