A Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver is an extra set of Health First Colorado (Medicaid) benefits and services that you may be able to get. Waiver benefits and services support health, independence, personal care, and overall well-being. Colorado has a glossary of waiver program benefits and services.

Colorado has 10 waiver programs, each with its own mix of benefits and services that help you live in the community instead of in a hospital or long-term care facility. No one waiver program offers every benefit and service. Instead, they offer different sets of benefits and services that are customized for different people and situations. For example, the Brain Injury (BI) waiver offers a different combination of benefits and services than the Complimentary and Integrative Health (CHI) waiver, but both help people live independently in the community. Some waivers offer more services than others.

You may qualify for more than one waiver program. If so, you should learn about the benefits and services each waiver has and choose the best program for you. Colorado has charts showing which benefits and services each waiver provides.

What Types of Benefits and Services do Waivers Provide?

Waiver benefits and services range from mental health counseling to non-medical transportation to peer mentorship to personal care supports. These benefits and services help you live with greater independence, and some benefits and services can help you get a job and build your career.

There are more than 50 waiver benefits and services, which help people with these types of things:

• Medical and professional services that give direct medical care, including services such as behavioral therapy, massage therapy, and acupuncture.
• Accessibility supports that help you live independently through assistive technology, home adaptations, transportation, and more.
• Recreational and daytime programs, which offer equipment and fees, group activities, mentorship, and other opportunities to improve your days.
• Independence and training services that give you the tools, supports, and strategies to transition into the community and keep living in your home. These services also include supported employment.
• Personal care and behavioral supports that help you live safely and independently in the community through therapies, management, education, direct personal care, and more.

If you are on a waiver, you will have a Case Manager who can help you get the most from your waiver services.

Learn more about the exact benefits and services offered by each waiver.

Waiver programs help people in certain situations live in the community. Who qualifies for waiver benefits depends on:

• Your disability
• Your current age and, for some waivers, how old you were when your disability began
• Your “level of care,” which is based on the level of care provided in different facilities (for example, a nursing facility or hospital), and
• Your personal finances, including savings and income.

Note: This page introduces the six waiver programs for adults. Learn more about waivers for children.

Colorado’s Adult Waiver Programs

Colorado has six waiver programs for adults:

• Brain Injury Waiver (BI)
• Community Mental Health Supports Waiver (CMHS)
• Complimentary and Integrative Health Waiver (CIH)
• Developmental Disabilities Waiver (DD)
• Elderly, Blind and Disabled Waiver (EBD)
• Supported Living Services Waiver (SLS)

Each waiver has its own set of benefits and services that are meant to help people with different disabilities and living situations. You may qualify for one waiver or for more than one waiver, depending on your disability and living situation. While you can qualify for more than one waiver, you can only get benefits from one waiver at a time. If you qualify for more than one, make sure to pick the one that’s the best match for you. However, if your life changes and your waiver is not meeting your needs, you can sign up for a different waiver later.

Some waivers may have waiting lists. If you apply for a waiver and there is a waitlist, see if you qualify for another waiver that doesn’t have a waitlist. You can be on a waiver waiting list and still get services through another waiver.

Adult Waiver Program Details

Here is more detailed information about each waiver program. As you read about the waiver programs, check out these useful resources that can help you understand their differences:

• This table shows which waiver programs offer which benefits and services.
• The Adult Waiver Flowchart can help you figure which waiver program is right for you.

See more charts comparing waiver programs.

Brain Injury Waiver (BI)

The Brain Injury Waiver (BI) is for people 16 years old or older who have a brain injury that occurred before they turned 65; the brain injury must also fit within certain medical categories.

To qualify, you must need the types of long-term services that you would get in a nursing home or a hospital.

The Brain Injury Waiver has more than 15 services including adult day services, behavioral management and education, home delivered meals, independent living skills training, non-medical transportation, peer mentorship, and respite care.

To apply for the BI waiver, enroll in Health First Colorado (Medicaid) and contact your local Single Entry Point Agency (SEP).

Community Mental Health Supports Waiver (CMHS)

The Community Mental Health Supports Waiver (CMHS) is for people 18 years old or older with severe and persistent mental health needs that require assistance with one or more Activities of Daily Living (ADL). These needs must be current or have been present within the past year and must meet diagnostic criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The help this waiver provides is above and separate from what you would get at a Community Mental Health Center.

To qualify, you must need long-term support services comparable to those typically provided in a nursing facility.

If you get services through the CMHS waiver, you are eligible for all Health First Colorado (Medicaid)-covered services except nursing facility and long-term hospital care. You also get other services including, but not limited to, adult day services, home delivered meals, home modifications, non-medical transportation, peer mentorship, residential supports, and respite care.

To apply for the CMHS waiver, enroll in Health First Colorado (Medicaid) and contact your local Single Entry Point Agency (SEP).

Developmental Disabilities (DD) Waiver

The Developmental Disabilities Waiver (DD) is for people 18 years old and older who have a disability and need access to services and supports 24 hours a day. People who get the DD waiver get 24-hour supervision through Residential Habilitation and Day Habilitation Services and Supports. Participants can live in a range of settings including your own home, at home with family, in host homes, and in group homes.

To qualify, you must need a level of care provided in an Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF-IID), which is a setting that looks like a nursing home.

This waiver provides many services including, but not limited to, behavioral services, day habilitation services, non-medical transportation, peer mentorship, and supported employment.

To apply, contact your local Community Centered Board or the Member Contact Center.

Note: The DD waiver has a waiting list. The Supported Living Services Waiver (SLS) is another option for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities that does not have a waiting list. If you qualify for both, you can sign up for the SLS waiver while you stay on the waiting list for the DD waiver.

Elderly, Blind & Disabled Waiver (EBD)

The Elderly, Blind & Disabled Waiver (EBD) is for people 65 years old or older who have a functional impairment or are blind, and for people who are 18-64 who are blind, physically disabled, or have a diagnosis of HIV or AIDS.

To qualify, you must need help and services comparable to those typically provided in a nursing facility.

If you get services through the EBD waiver, you can get all Health First Colorado (Medicaid) covered services except nursing facility and long-term hospital care. Other services you can get through this waiver include, but are not limited to, adult day services, homemaker services, non-medical transportation, residential supports, and respite care services.

To apply for the EBD waiver, enroll in Health First Colorado (Medicaid) and contact your local Single Entry Point Agency (SEP).

Complimentary and Integrative Health Waiver (CIH)

The Complimentary and Integrative Health Waiver (CIH) is for people who are 18 years old or older and have a spinal cord injury (traumatic or nontraumatic), multiple sclerosis, brain injury, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, or cerebral palsy, and who can’t walk independently.

This waiver provides services including, but not limited to, alternative therapies (like acupuncture, chiropractic, and massage therapy), home modifications, non-medical transportation, respite care, peer mentorship, and In-Home Support Services.

To apply for the CHI waiver, enroll in Health First Colorado (Medicaid) and contact your local Single Entry Point Agency (SEP).

Supported Living Services Waiver (SLS)

The Supported Living Services Waiver (SLS) is for people 18 years old or older with intellectual and developmental disabilities who don’t need 24-hour support. People who get SLS waiver benefits have to make their own living arrangements, including living with family, with roommates, or in their own house or apartment.

To qualify, you must meet the Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF-IID) level of care, which is similar to a nursing home.

This waiver provides many services including, but not limited to, day habilitation services, behavioral services, assistive technology, homemaker services, non-medical transportation, supported employment, and peer mentorship.

To apply for the SLS waiver, contact your local Community Centered Board or the Member Contact Center.

Colorado has four waiver programs for children that can help them live in the community in a safe and healthy way. Some children’s waivers also give services to parents of children with disabilities.

The four children’s waiver programs are:

• Children with Life Limiting Illness Waiver (CLLI)
• Children’s Extensive Support Waiver (CES)
• Children’s Habilitation Residential Program Waiver (CHRP)
• Children’s Home and Community Based Services Waiver (CHCBS)

Each waiver has its own set of benefits and services. You may qualify for one waiver or for more than one waiver, depending on your disability and living situation. Some waivers may have waitlists. If you qualify for more than one waiver, you can sign up for one waiver that doesn’t have a waiting list while you on the waiting list for another.

This section will describe the basics of each waiver and who is eligible.

Note: This page introduces the four waiver programs for children. Learn more about waivers for adults.

Children’s Waiver Programs Details

Here is more detailed information about each waiver program for children. As you read about them, check out these useful resources that can help you understand their differences:

• This table shows which waiver programs offer which benefits and services.
• The Children’s Waiver Flowchart can help you figure out which waiver program is right for you.

See more charts comparing waiver programs.

Children with Life Limiting Illness Waiver (CLLI)

The Children with Life Limiting Illness Waiver is for children 18 years old or younger who have a life-limiting illness certified by a physician. The CLLI waiver does not set limits around life expectancy, so children with serious illnesses that may eventually be treated or cured can still qualify.

To qualify, you must be “at risk of institutionalization in a hospital setting” and meet the Social Security Administration’s definition of disability for children.

The CLLI Waiver gives you palliative care (providing some relief from symptoms and improving your quality of life) as you and your parents seek medical treatment or cures. If you use the CLLI waiver, you qualify for all Health First Colorado (Medicaid) services except nursing facilities and long-term hospital care.

For this waiver, your income must be $2,901 per month or less and your countable resources must be less than $2,000. For this waiver, parental income and resources aren’t counted.

To apply for the CLLI waiver, enroll in Health First Colorado (Medicaid) and contact your local Single Entry Point Agency.

Children’s Extensive Support Waiver (CES)

The Children’s Extensive Support Waiver is for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are 17 years and younger and live in a family home.

This waiver provides services to help you live in the community and gives you the support you need so that you can stay in the community as you become an adult. Services include, but are not limited to, respite care, professional services, accessibility adaptations, and parent education.

To qualify, you must have a disability at the level that you need almost constant supervision to keep yourself and others safe. You must also need a level of care that matches the care at an Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID).

To apply for this waiver and learn about income and resource eligibility rules, contact your local Community Centered Board or the Member Contact Center.

Children’s Habilitation Residential Program Waiver (CHRP)

The Children’s Habilitation Residential Program Waiver is for children who are 20 years and younger with an intellectual or developmental disability that puts them at risk of needing to live outside of their home, such as in a long-term care facility.

This waiver can help you learn and keep the skills you need to live in your community. Its services include, but are not limited to, 24-hour residential support, community connector services, professional services, and respite services.

To qualify, you must need a level of care that matches the care at an Intermediate Care Facility for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (ICF/IID), your income must be $2,901 per month or less, and you must have $2,000 in countable resources or less.

To apply for this waiver and learn more, contact your local Community Centered Board or the Member Contact Center.

Children’s Home and Community-Based Services Waiver (CHCBS)

The Children’s Home and Community-based Services Waiver is for children who are 17 years and younger with a significant disability. Your medical needs need to be at the level where you are at risk of needing to live in an acute hospital or skilled nursing facility.

This waiver is for families where the parents have too much income or resources to qualify for Health First Colorado (Medicaid). You can still qualify as a child if your income is less than $2,901 per month and you have under $2,000 in countable resources.

The Children’s Home and Community-Based Services Waiver gives you all the covered services under Health First Colorado (Medicaid), as well as case management services and In-Home Support Services.

To apply for this waiver, contact your local Single Entry Point Agency, Community Centered Board, or Private Case Management Agency.

Eric’s Story

Eric is 45 years old and was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) 15 years ago. He’s been living on his own for most of his adult life and has always valued his independence. A few years after he was diagnosed, Eric went from working full-time to part-time and signed up for Health First Colorado (Medicaid) for healthcare and other needs. His MS has progressed over the years and he is having a harder time with cooking, cleaning, and other daily tasks. The nursing services he gets under Health First Colorado (Medicaid) just aren’t keeping up with his needs. He’s starting to think that he could use extra services but isn’t sure where to look.

A few friends told Eric he should think about moving into a nursing facility, but Eric values his independence and wants to keep living at home. He decided to call his Health First Colorado (Medicaid) social worker and ask if there is a way for him to get the services he needs at home. His social worker told him about waiver programs, which give extra benefits and services to qualifying people with disabilities. She said that waiver programs are designed to help people live in the community rather than an institution. She then gave Eric the website for Colorado’s Home and Community Based Services Waivers. “There are six waivers for adults,” she explained. “You can browse the page and see what’s best for you.”

“Thanks so much!” Eric said, and soon he started looking through the website.

Choosing the Right Waiver

Eric checked out each of the six adult waivers. Five of them didn’t seem to fit his MS diagnosis: there was one for people with brain injuries, one for people with mental health conditions, one for people with spinal cord injuries, and two for people with developmental disabilities. But then he saw the Elderly, Blind & Disabled Waiver (EBD), which would work for a wider range of disabilities.

Eric looked at the information page for the EBD waiver and he thought it might support his needs. He fit the eligibility group since he was between the ages of 18 and 64 and had a physical disability. Multiple sclerosis affected Eric’s strength, mobility, pain, and fatigue: it would clearly count as a physical disability. He already had coverage through the Health First Colorado Buy-In Program For Working Adults With Disabilities (Medicaid Adult Buy-In), and could get the waiver through that program.

One thing on the website stood out to Eric: it said that for him to qualify, he must need long-term support services at a level like those provided in a nursing facility. He probably would not have qualified a couple of years ago, but now he did, because his MS had progressed. It was time to sign up for the waiver.

The benefits and services in the EBD waiver would be a huge help for Eric. He would keep his existing Health First Colorado (Medicaid) benefits and get a bunch of extra benefits and services, like adult day services, home delivered meals, home modifications, non-medical transportation, In-Home Support Services, and respite care services. Eric was confident that those benefits would allow him to keep living at home and in the community.

Applying for the Waiver

Eric was ready to apply for the EBD waiver. He looked at the bottom of the EBD waiver website, which said to enroll in Health First Colorado (Medicaid) and then contact a Single Entry Point (SEP) agency to start the application. Because Eric was already enrolled in Health First Colorado (Medicaid), he visited the Single Entry Point Agency locater and found the address, phone number, and website for his local office.

He called the Single Entry Point office and asked about applying for the EBD waiver. The staff was friendly and told him about the waiver, the services it provides, and how he could qualify. Then, they scheduled an evaluation with the Case Manager for Home and Community Based Services. The next day Eric was referred to an Intake Case Manager named Eve. She scheduled a visit within 10 days, which is the usual timeframe for a Case Manager to evaluate a client.

Late the next week, Eve came to Eric’s home for an initial assessment, called a “home visit.” Eve and Eric discussed his Activities of Daily Living to determine Eric’s needs for each area. They discussed bathing, dressing, mobility, transferring, eating, supervision, memory, cognition, and supervision behavior. It’s clear in their conversation that Eric’s level of need is equal to that provided in a nursing home. Eve tells Eric that he will qualify for the EBD waiver, and Eric is ecstatic that he will have the supports to keep him living in his home.

Eve tells Eric that she will process his application. She warns him that it could take up to 45 days, but that she’ll try to speed it up since Eric is at risk of needing to go to a nursing home. They make a plan that outlines which waiver services Eric will need. Eric is really looking forward to the adult day services and non-medical transportation, which will help him keep in touch with his community.

Eric doesn’t plan to be shy about using the new benefits and services to stay independent. He knows that taking care of his health and personal needs is the best way to keep living at home. The EBD waiver will make that possible. It’s a perfect fit.