Idaho Aged and Disabled (A&D) Waiver
The Aged and Disabled (A&D) Waiver is Idaho Medicaid’s home and community-based waiver for older adults and adults with disabilities who need a nursing home level of care and can live safely in the community. For the wider picture, see our Idaho Long-Term Care Medicaid guide.
Figures change periodically. Double-check current amounts before relying on them.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Type of program | Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) waiver |
| Who runs it | Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (Medicaid) |
| Age | 65 and older, or 18 to 64 with a disabling condition |
| Care need | Needs a nursing facility level of care |
| Idaho 2026 income rule (long-term care) | $3,002 a month (individual); $5,984 (couple) |
| Idaho 2026 asset limit (single applicant) | $2,000 |
| Waiting list | Slots may be limited, with a waiting list |
The A&D Waiver in brief
In short, the A&D Waiver is run by Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (Medicaid). Who it is for: 65 and older, or 18 to 64 with a disabling condition. Care need required: Needs a nursing facility level of care. As for waiting: Slots may be limited, with a waiting list. More detail on each point follows, and the Idaho state guide covers the shared financial rules. Families weighing the A&D Waiver against other Idaho options can use the related pages at the end to compare programs side by side.
What the program is
Idaho Medicaid runs the A&D Waiver. An assessor uses Idaho’s Uniform Assessment Instrument to decide whether the person meets the nursing facility level of care and what services are needed. Dual-eligible members in much of the state receive A&D services through a managed care plan (Idaho Medicaid Plus or the Medicare Medicaid Coordinated Plan).
The A&D Waiver is a “waiver” because federal Medicaid lets Idaho waive certain rules in order to pay for care at home and in the community. Waivers usually have a fixed number of slots each year, a care plan written for each person, and a case manager or support coordinator who arranges services. They do not replace regular Medicaid: a person on a waiver still has ordinary Medicaid coverage for doctor visits, hospital care and prescriptions, with Medicare paying first for people who have it. See our overview of HCBS waivers.
Who qualifies in 2026
To get the A&D Waiver, a person generally has to meet each of these:
- Is 65 or older, or 18 to 64 with a disabling condition
- Needs a nursing facility level of care
- Qualifies for full Medicaid under Idaho’s long-term care financial rules (see the money test below) (2026 income limit: $3,002 a month for an individual)
- Lives in Idaho and is a U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen
- Can live safely in the community with waiver services
Income and assets. The A&D Waiver requires full Medicaid eligibility under Idaho’s long-term care financial rules. Figures shown above are the 2026 Idaho long-term care limits from our state guide. The home (up to the equity limit, when the person or a spouse lives there or plans to return), one vehicle, belongings and a small burial fund are generally not counted by Idaho Medicaid. Married couples get extra protection in Idaho: the spouse at home keeps a share of assets and may get some of the applicant’s income. See Spousal impoverishment rules.
How the care assessment works. Idaho Medicaid’s assessment covers daily activities, from bathing and dressing to toileting and medications, plus memory and safety. The visit is normally face to face, at home or in a hospital or facility. Before a the A&D Waiver assessment, it helps to line up a family member who can describe a typical bad day, and to have a list of diagnoses and medications ready. See Nursing home level of care and Activities of daily living.
What services it can pay for
Services depend on the person’s assessed needs and written care plan. Depending on the plan, they can include:
- Attendant care
- Adult day health
- Adult residential care (care in certified family homes and residential assisted living)
- Respite
- Transportation
- Home modifications
- Home-delivered meals
- Skilled nursing
- Help moving from a facility
The menu is broad, but the plan is built from need, and unpaid family help is factored in. If needs change, ask for a new assessment.
How to apply
Getting the A&D Waiver means passing a money test and a care test. Step by step:
- Apply for Idaho Medicaid with the Department of Health and Welfare.
- Request an A&D Waiver assessment.
- Complete the Uniform Assessment Instrument with an assessor.
- If approved, a plan of service is written and providers are chosen.
For the paperwork, use our documents checklist before applying for the A&D Waiver; Applying for a waiver explains the general process.
Waiting lists
Slots may be limited, and a waiting list can form when they fill.
General advice is in Waiver waiting lists.
How it relates to nursing home Medicaid
The A&D Waiver uses the same nursing facility level of care as nursing home Medicaid. Idaho’s 2026 income limit is $3,002 a month for an individual, and the asset limit is in our state guide.
What is the same as nursing home Medicaid. Idaho’s financial rules for the A&D Waiver track the nursing home rules closely. Gifts and below-value transfers in the five-year look-back can trigger a penalty period for home care as well as nursing home care. Idaho Medicaid can also use estate recovery to seek repayment for long-term care services received after 55. People who keep income above a set allowance may have to pay part of it toward their care each month.
If a nursing home becomes necessary. A Idaho nursing home resident keeps a 2026 personal needs allowance of $40 a month, and most other income goes to the facility. Our state guide covers the nursing home rules in detail.
Tips for families
- Start early. If there is a waiting list or a slow assessment, the clock usually starts when you ask, not when the crisis comes.
- Keep copies of every the A&D Waiver form, notice and letter, and write down the name of each person you speak with and the date.
- Watch the deadlines on notices. A denial or cut can be appealed through a fair hearing, and a timely request can keep services going meanwhile.
- Report changes in income, assets, address or living situation to Idaho Medicaid when they happen.
- Expect yearly reviews of both Medicaid eligibility and the care assessment. See Renewals.
- Think about the spouse at home. Couples have extra protections, but they have to be claimed. A certified Medicaid planner or a legal aid office can explain how the rules apply to a particular family.
Common questions
Does the A&D Waiver pay for assisted living? It can pay for care in residential assisted living facilities and certified family homes. The resident pays room and board.
Can a family member be paid? Some family members can be paid as attendants; rules vary by program.
Is there a share of cost? Some participants pay part of their income toward services.
Related pages
- Idaho Long-Term Care Medicaid guide
- Idaho personal care services
- Idaho Medicaid Plus
- Three kinds of Long-Term Care Medicaid
- PACE programs
Last updated for 2026. General information only, not legal or financial advice. Medicaid Answers is a free educational resource published by Medicaid Answers Foundation.