Indiana Aged and Disabled Waiver: What Changed and What Replaced It

If you're searching for the Indiana Aged and Disabled waiver, you need to know that the program you're looking for no longer exists as a single entity. On July 1, 2024, Indiana split the A&D waiver into two separate programs — and the distinction matters for how you apply, who assesses your parent, and which services they can receive.

The Split: PathWays for Aging vs. Health & Wellness

The former Aged and Disabled (A&D) waiver was divided by age:

PathWays for Aging serves individuals aged 60 and older. It operates under a managed long-term services and supports (MLTSS) model, meaning care is coordinated through one of three Managed Care Entities: Anthem, Humana, or UnitedHealthcare. This is the program most families caring for aging parents need.

Health & Wellness (H&W) Waiver serves individuals aged 59 and younger with physical or medical disabilities. It's managed by the Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services (DDRS) — a completely different state division.

The services available under both programs are similar to what the old A&D waiver covered: attendant care, home-delivered meals, home modifications, adult day services, respite care, and structured family caregiving. But the administrative pathway — who you call, who assesses your parent, and who coordinates ongoing care — is entirely different.

How to Apply in 2026

The application process now runs through Maximus, not your local Area Agency on Aging:

1. Contact Maximus at 1-833-597-2777 to request a Level of Care Assessment (LCAR). They must schedule the evaluation within 7 calendar days
2. Prepare for the assessment — Maximus uses the interRAI tool to evaluate your parent's ability to perform Activities of Daily Living. They need to document difficulty with at least 3 of 5 core ADLs (bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, mobility)
3. Receive the determination — Maximus issues a written recommendation within 11 calendar days of the assessment request
4. Get placed on the waitlist — if your parent meets nursing facility level of care, they're placed on the PathWays waiver waiting list. As of mid-2026, this list exceeds 11,277 individuals
5. Apply for Medicaid — financial eligibility is separate. File through the FSSA Benefits Portal or your local DFR office. You'll need 60 months of financial records

The Waitlist Reality

The statewide waitlist started April 24, 2024 — a new development that didn't exist under the old A&D waiver system. The wait can be long, but priority categories can accelerate it:

• First priority: individuals transitioning from a nursing facility, being discharged from a hospital, or currently on 100% state-funded programs like CHOICE
• Second priority: everyone else, ordered by their original Level of Care assessment date

If your parent is currently hospitalized or in a nursing facility and wants to return home, they may qualify for priority placement that bypasses much of the wait.

What to Do While Waiting

The waitlist doesn't mean your parent gets nothing. Contact your local Area Agency on Aging about:

• CHOICE program — state-funded home care with no income limit and a $250,000 asset ceiling. Covers homemaker services, meals, and home modifications
• Medicare home health — if your parent has a skilled care need (wound care, PT, OT), Medicare covers short-term home health visits regardless of Medicaid status
• Private-pay home care — averaging $35/hour in Indiana for non-medical assistance

The old A&D waiver was simpler. The new system is more complex but offers more coordination through the managed care structure. For the complete step-by-step process — from Maximus assessment through waitlist strategies, Miller Trust setup, and MCE enrollment — the Indiana Home Care, Waivers & Support Guide walks you through each stage with the exact forms, phone numbers, and deadlines you'll need.

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