The Connecticut Medicaid Program (often called Title 19) is a means-tested federal/state program that helps fund medical and long-term care for low-income aged, blind or disabled individuals and families with children.
Medicaid covers both custodial and skilled long-term care in an individual’s home and residential and institutional settings, with no time limits on care for eligible individuals. The Program is designed only for those without sufficient income and assets to pay for their own medical treatment. Because eligibility criteria is extremely complex, please contact the CHOICES Program at the Area Agency on Aging in your area for more information.
Basic Coverage & Limitations:
- { } Pays for custodial and skilled long-term care without time limits for eligible individuals.
- { } Available only to people who cannot afford to pay for their medical treatment or long-term care.
- { } Recipients must also satisfy non-financial requirements, concerning age and disability.
- { } Additional eligibility requirements involve location of residence and whether at-home or nursing home care is provided.
Special Medicaid Programs:
The Connecticut Medicaid Program offers some special programs to help individuals pay for their long-term care needs while living in the community. These programs have strict eligibility criteria and a maximum number of people they can serve at one time. While many of these programs have long waiting lists, please explore each one to see if they can help with your needs.
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CT Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE)
Through a special Medicaid waiver, this program helps low-income, frail persons aged 65 years and older to remain in their home. An array of medical and social supports are offered to seniors who, in the absence of such services, would be forced to accept nursing facility placement. The goal is to provide safe, cost-effective community-based care, as appropriate and available. Beyond traditional medical support, CHCPE provides companion services, as well as assistance with chores, such as shopping and laundering.
Eligibility:
- { } Elders aged 65 and older
- { } Must not exceed established income and asset limits
- { } Able to meet all other home and community-based Medicaid requirements
There is also a State-funded component to the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders that allows individuals with more assets and income than is allowed under the Medicaid Program to receive home care services.
For more information on the CT Home Care Program for Elders, please call the Department of Social Services Alternate Care Unit at 1-800-445-5394 or click here.
Through this special waiver, Medicaid allows disabled Connecticut residents to employ personal care assistants for help with activities essential to daily functioning and greater independence. This flexible, cost-effective program, is designed to give consumers control over their lives and does not require using the services of a home health agency.
In the Personal Care Assistance Waiver, the consumer retains full control over the hiring, training, paying and, when needed, dismissal of the personal care assistant. This arrangement allows for relationship building and consistency of service. In addition, the consumer receives services when needed, rather than at the convenience of a home health agency.
Eligibility:
- { } Connecticut resident with physical disability, between 18 and 64 years old
- { } Must not exceed established income and asset limits
- { } Able to meet all other home and community-based Medicaid requirements
Acquired Brain Injury Waiver
Addresses the needs of persons disabled by acquired brain injuries who currently receive, or would otherwise require, services in an institutional setting. Employing the principles of person-centered planning, it provides an appropriate, cost-effective plan of care from a menu of twenty-one home and community-based services.
Eligibility:
- { } Individuals between 18 and 64 years old
- { } Must not exceed established income and asset limits
- { } Able to meet all other home and community-based Medicaid requirements
For more information on the Acquired Brain Injury Waiver click here or or contact the adult services social work unit in the Department of Social Services Regional Offices.
The Katie Beckett Waiver enables severely disabled individuals to be cared for at home and be eligible for Medicaid based on the individual’s income and assets. Without this waiver, the income and assets of legally liable relatives (parent or spouse) are counted when the disabled person is cared for at home. There is a long waiting list for this program; however, families of severely disabled individuals who want to care for their child or spouse at home are encouraged to add their name to the waiting list.
Eligibility:
- { } Severely disabled individuals (no age limit, although predominantly used by children)
- { } Must not exceed established income and asset limits
- { } Would otherwise require care in a nursing home or ICF/MR facility
- { } Able to meet all other home and community-based Medicaid requirements
For more information on the Katie Beckett Waiver, call Alternate Care Unit at the Department of Social Services Central Office at (800) 445-5394.
The DDS Waiver provides a variety of home and community-based services to people with mental retardation who might otherwise be institionalized. It allows persons who live at home to receive services tailored to their needs. An individual budget is determined and enrollees may choose to hire staff independently, through a vendor agency, or a combination of both.
Categories of Services and Supports include:
- { } Home and Community Supports including Personal Assistance, Adult Companion, Supported Living, Individual Habilitation, Personal Emergency Response Systems
- { } Respite; Day/Vocational Supports including Group Day, Individualized Day
- { } Employment Services and Supports
- { } Ancillary Supports: Consultative Therapies, Specialized Medical Equipment and Supplies, non-medical transportation, home and vehicle modifications, interpreter services, family training, family and individual consultation
For more information about services, eligibility criteria and application instructions related to the DDS Waiver please click here.
Money Follows the Person (MFP) Program
Money Follows the Person (MFP) is a state program that helps move people to the community from institutional settings. If you or a loved one are in an institutionalized setting, such as a nursing home, and would like to learn more about your options to move to your community, Connecticut’s Department of Social Services has transition services to assist people based on their individual needs. Even if you don’t qualify for the Money Follows the Person program, there are other services the Department may offer to assist you. Complete an application to access services.
For further information about the Money Follows the Person Program or for an application, please click here or call 1-888-992-8637.
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WISE Program (Mental Health Medicaid Waiver)
Through this special waiver program, WISE (Working for Integration, Support and Empowerment) helps people with serious mental illness avoid nursing home placement and also helps others who are currently living in a nursing home transition back to the community. WISE services include assertive community treatment (ACT), Community Support Program (CSP), supported employment, peer support, recovery assistant, short-term crisis stabilization, and transitional case management. Additionally this waiver can help cover non-medical transportation, specialized medical equipment and home accessibility adaptations. Housing coordinators are available if needed to help participants find affordable housing.
Eligibility:
- An adult, 22 years of age or older
- Must meet Medicaid eligibility guidelines (established income and asset limits)
- Must meet Medicaid State Plan criteria for nursing home level of care
- Has a diagnosis of serious mental illness as defined by State of Connecticut PASRR policy
For additional eligibility criteria and for more information on the WISE program click here or contact the WISE unit at the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services 1-800-548-0265.
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