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North Carolina Community Alternatives Program for Disabled Adults Waiver
What are Medicaid Waivers?
Medicaid pays for long term care services in nursing homes. For nursing home qualified persons that choose to live at home or in a residential community, Medicaid will pay for those services if they can be obtained at a lower cost. These are called Home and Community Based Services, Waiver Funded Services, Medicaid Waivers or simply Waivers.
Community Alternatives Program for Disabled Adults Waiver Overview
The Community Alternative Program for Disabled Adults, North Carolina’s Medicaid home and community based waiver program, is intended to provide alternatives to nursing home placement for the low income disabled adults. This program allows participants to remain in their private residence as an alternative to nursing facility care. This program offer medical and personal care services.
Associated with this program is the Community Alternative Program for Choice (CAP/Choice). This option offers participants consumer direction of some of their care services. This model of program is based on the Medicaid concept of Cash and Counseling is sometimes also referred to as self-directed care or participant direction. Under CAP/Choice, participants can hire family members (or whomever they choose) to provide personal assistance services. Phrased another way, the adult children of aging parents can be paid to be their caregivers.
Associated with this program is the Community Alternative Program for Choice (CAP/Choice). This option offers participants consumer direction of some of their care services. This model of program is based on the Medicaid concept of Cash and Counseling is sometimes also referred to as self-directed care or participant direction. Under CAP/Choice, participants can hire family members (or whomever they choose) to provide personal assistance services. Phrased another way, the adult children of aging parents can be paid to be their caregivers.
Qualifications for the Community Alternatives Program Waiver
In addition to requiring skilled or immediate nursing care, participants must be financially qualified to receive Medicaid.
Qualifying for Medicaid is a complicated process involving a review of a family’s income, assets and asset transfers as far back as 5 years. The rules change in each state but typically monthly income cannot exceed $2,000 and one's countable assets must be valued at less $1,000 - $8,000. IMPORTANT* Even though, one's income or assets may exceed these limits, most individuals can still qualify for Medicaid.
Many families find themselves in an awkward position where their loved one has enough income and assets that they do not qualify for Medicaid but not enough so that they can afford to pay for their care. Fortunately, there are many exceptions to what is considered income and countable assets. For example, one's car and home can be considered exempt from their countable assets. Income in excess of the limit can be allocated to a pooled income trust thereby enabling the individual to meet the Medicaid limit and qualify for assistance.
Creating a funeral trust is another simple and common technique used to help qualify for Medicaid. Given the expense of funerals and the fact that everyone will eventually require one, it makes sense to allocate money in advance to cover the funeral and associated expenses. A funeral trust is considered an exempt asset from Medicaid, therefore by creating one, a family can prepare for an inevitable need without having to plan the details and lower their countable assets to help qualify for Medicaid. Learn more about establishing a funeral trust.
Not qualifying for Medicaid can be devastating to the comfort of an individual, their family’s finances and even their health. For these reasons, Medicaid planners exist to ensure families have the best chance of acceptance into the program. With care costing $1000’s / month, there is a strong incentive to use a Medicaid Planner. Find assistance applying for Medicaid.
Qualifying for Medicaid is a complicated process involving a review of a family’s income, assets and asset transfers as far back as 5 years. The rules change in each state but typically monthly income cannot exceed $2,000 and one's countable assets must be valued at less $1,000 - $8,000. IMPORTANT* Even though, one's income or assets may exceed these limits, most individuals can still qualify for Medicaid.
Many families find themselves in an awkward position where their loved one has enough income and assets that they do not qualify for Medicaid but not enough so that they can afford to pay for their care. Fortunately, there are many exceptions to what is considered income and countable assets. For example, one's car and home can be considered exempt from their countable assets. Income in excess of the limit can be allocated to a pooled income trust thereby enabling the individual to meet the Medicaid limit and qualify for assistance.
Creating a funeral trust is another simple and common technique used to help qualify for Medicaid. Given the expense of funerals and the fact that everyone will eventually require one, it makes sense to allocate money in advance to cover the funeral and associated expenses. A funeral trust is considered an exempt asset from Medicaid, therefore by creating one, a family can prepare for an inevitable need without having to plan the details and lower their countable assets to help qualify for Medicaid. Learn more about establishing a funeral trust.
Not qualifying for Medicaid can be devastating to the comfort of an individual, their family’s finances and even their health. For these reasons, Medicaid planners exist to ensure families have the best chance of acceptance into the program. With care costing $1000’s / month, there is a strong incentive to use a Medicaid Planner. Find assistance applying for Medicaid.
Services Provided under the Community Alternatives Program Waiver
- Adult Day Health Services
- In-Home Aide Services
- Home Management
- Personal Care
- Case Management
- Respite Care
- Preparation and delivery of meals
- Emergency Response Monitoring
Community Alternatives Program Availability
This program is available Statewide across North Carolina.
Use our Locator Tool to Find Other Options for which You're Eligible
