Indiana Medicaid waiver guide
Learn how Indiana Medicaid waiver services work, which state agency to start with, how the application process usually begins, and where to search for home and community-based services.
Last reviewed July 2026. See something out of date? Use the “Suggest an edit” button to let us know.
Indiana serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through two Medicaid waivers administered by the Bureau of Disabilities Services (BDS, formerly BDDS) within the Family and Social Services Administration: the Family Supports Waiver, a limited non-residential package for people living with family or informal supports, and the Community Integration and Habilitation Waiver, which covers more intensive needs including residential. Two things are happening at once right now. Indiana hit its federally approved waiver capacity in April 2024 and has operated a waiting list since, and the state is midway through a “Waiver Reset” that will replace its existing waivers entirely, beginning with a youth waiver targeted for July 2027.
Search by state, city, or ZIP code to compare provider profiles, services, contact details, and verified status.
People with developmental disabilities living with family or in settings with informal supports — non-residential, and budget-limited
People with more intensive needs, including those requiring residential supports
For the Family Supports Waiver, you must have received an intellectual disability diagnosis before age 22, live in a non-institutional HCBS-compliant setting, have income at or below 300% of the maximum SSI amount, and meet an ICF/IID level of care. The CIH Waiver serves people with more intensive needs, including those who require residential supports. Both are Medicaid-funded, so financial eligibility applies alongside the disability and level-of-care findings.
The Family Supports Waiver requires an intellectual disability diagnosis received before age 22. Make sure the records establishing that date are in hand.
You must meet the level of care an intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities would provide, established through assessment.
Family Supports Waiver income eligibility is set at or below 300% of the maximum Supplemental Security Income amount. This figure changes with SSI, so confirm the current threshold rather than an older number.
You must live in a non-institutionalized setting that meets federal HCBS settings requirements.
Indiana reached its federally approved waiver capacity in April 2024 and implemented a waiting list. People are generally targeted in the order they applied, from the oldest application date to the newest. Certain situations jump the queue — people transitioning out of nursing facilities, from CHOICE, or discharging from a hospital receive first priority. Invitations are issued monthly as capacity becomes available.
Apply online any time at bddsgateway.fssa.in.gov, or in person at one of Indiana's eight BDS District Offices. Your application date sets your place in line, so do this as early as possible.
Open linkThe Family Supports Waiver requires an intellectual disability diagnosis received before age 22. Evaluations, school records, and medical records establishing that date are the core of the application.
You must be found to meet an ICF/IID level of care. Your assessment date matters — for waitlist ordering outside the priority categories, Indiana uses the original level of care assessment or application date.
Check the HCBS Waitlist Web Portal after applying. Registrations take at least five business days to appear. Do not assume the application registered — verify it, since your date is what protects your position.
Invitations to enroll are issued monthly as capacity becomes available. Keep your address and phone number current in the portal so the invitation reaches you.
Exact covered services depend on the waiver, assessed need, Medicaid rules, funding, and state program requirements. Confirm services, availability, and payment acceptance with the state, support coordinator, and provider.
Indiana offers self-directed options under its waivers, letting participants and families hire and manage some of their own workers rather than relying only on agency providers. Ask your case manager which services can be self-directed under the waiver you are enrolled in.
Approved waiver services are paid by Indiana Medicaid. Once enrolled, there is generally little or no direct cost for covered services.
FSW provides limited, non-residential supports and is budget-constrained by design. If residential or more intensive support is likely to be needed, discuss the CIH Waiver explicitly rather than assuming FSW will expand to meet the need.
Family Supports Waiver income eligibility sits at or below 300% of the maximum SSI amount, so the threshold moves when SSI does. Confirm the current figure before ruling yourself out.
Indiana's First Steps program serves infants and toddlers with delays, separately from the BDS waivers.
Because the waiting list is ordered by application date, registering a child early is the highest-leverage step available to a family. There is no benefit to waiting until services feel urgent.
The Family Supports Waiver requires an intellectual disability diagnosis received before age 22. Make sure a qualifying diagnosis is on record before that birthday.
Indiana is replacing its four HCBS waivers — CIH, Family Supports, Health & Wellness, and Traumatic Brain Injury — with newly designed waivers. Phase 1, a youth waiver for ages 0–21, is targeted for July 2027; adult waivers follow in 2028. People already receiving services will not have to reapply.
If eligibility or a waiver service is denied, reduced, or ended, you have the right to appeal and to request a Medicaid fair hearing within the deadline printed on your notice. Indiana Disability Rights is the state's protection and advocacy agency and provides free legal advocacy.
Protection & Advocacy agency for Indiana
1-800-622-4845Visit siteApply for waiver services online, available 24/7
Visit siteEight district offices statewide — where in-person applications go
Visit siteCheck your waitlist placement, application dates, and district office contact
Visit siteFree disability rights and appeals help
1-800-622-4845Visit siteLocal help & referrals — dial 211
Visit siteIndiana reached federally approved capacity in April 2024 and started a waiting list. Most people are targeted in the order they applied, oldest application date first. Exceptions get first priority: people transitioning from nursing facilities, from CHOICE, or discharging from a hospital. Invitations go out monthly.
Use the HCBS Waitlist Web Portal with the last four digits of the SSN or a Dart-ID, plus name and date of birth. It shows your waiver application dates and your BDS District Office contact. New registrations take at least five business days to appear, and updates 5–7 business days.
Family Supports is a limited, non-residential package for people living with family or informal supports. CIH covers more intensive needs, including residential habilitation and structured family caregiving. If residential support is likely, raise CIH specifically.
Indiana is replacing its four HCBS waivers with newly designed ones, using the interRAI as a single universal assessment and replacing Algo levels with standardized support levels. A youth waiver for ages 0–21 is targeted for July 2027, with adult waivers in 2028. Current recipients do not need to reapply, and the redesign does not add funding or eliminate the waitlist.
People whose case management organization was not selected under the reset were asked to choose a new provider between June 1 and July 15, 2026, with transitions effective August 1, 2026. If that applies to you and you missed the window, contact your BDS District Office right away rather than waiting.
For the Family Supports Waiver, you must have received an intellectual disability diagnosis before age 22, live in a non-institutional HCBS-compliant setting, have income at or below 300% of the maximum SSI amount, and meet an ICF/IID level of care. The CIH Waiver serves people with more intensive needs, including those who require residential supports. Both are Medicaid-funded, so financial eligibility applies alongside the disability and level-of-care findings.
apply through the bds gateway or a district office, gather documentation of onset before 22, complete the level of care assessment, confirm you're actually on the list, then enroll and choose providers. Start with Indiana Bureau of Disabilities Services.
Covered services vary by waiver and assessed need, and commonly include in-home supports, respite, supported employment, day services, behavior support, residential supports. Confirm specifics with the state and provider.
Indiana reached its federally approved waiver capacity in April 2024 and implemented a waiting list. People are generally targeted in the order they applied, from the oldest application date to the newest. Certain situations jump the queue — people transitioning out of nursing facilities, from CHOICE, or discharging from a hospital receive first priority. Invitations are issued monthly as capacity becomes available.
Approved waiver services are generally covered by Medicaid at little or no direct cost once enrolled, though some enrollees may owe a monthly patient responsibility based on income.
How Indiana's waiting list works, who gets priority, and weekly placement figures.
IndianaCheck your placement, application dates, and district office contact.
IndianaEligibility, income limits, and covered services for the FSW.
IndianaWhat is changing in Indiana's waiver redesign, the phase timeline, and what current recipients need to do.
IndianaFind waiver providers and services in Indiana on Waiverly.
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