Kansas KanCare Frail Elderly (FE) Waiver
The Frail Elderly (FE) Waiver is Kansas Medicaid’s home and community-based waiver for Kansans 65 and older who need a nursing facility level of care. Services are delivered through KanCare managed care plans. It sits alongside our Kansas Long-Term Care Medicaid guide, which covers the nursing home rules.
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 | Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), delivered through KanCare plans |
| Age | 65 and older |
| Care need | Nursing facility level of functional need |
| Kansas 2026 income rule (long-term care) | $2,982 a month (special income standard) |
| Kansas 2026 asset limit (single applicant) | $2,000 |
| Waiting list | Yes. A waitlist started July 6, 2026 |
The FE Waiver in brief
In short, the FE Waiver is run by Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), delivered through KanCare plans. Its target group is 65 and older; on care need, the rule is: Nursing facility level of functional need. Waiting list status in 2026: Yes. A waitlist started July 6, 2026. Each of these points is covered in more depth below, alongside the general Kansas rules from our state guide. If the FE Waiver is not the right fit, the related pages at the end point to other Kansas programs and general guides.
What the program is
KDADS manages the FE Waiver. The local Aging and Disability Resource Center completes a functional assessment. A KanCare plan care coordinator writes the plan and arranges services. Self-direction is available for personal care.
The FE Waiver is a “waiver” because federal Medicaid lets Kansas waive certain rules in order to pay for care at home and in the community. Slots are limited each year, every participant has an individual care plan, and a case manager or coordinator puts services in place. 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
In Kansas, the basic requirements for the FE Waiver are that the person:
- Is 65 or older
- Meets the Medicaid financial rules
- Meets the nursing facility level of functional need
- Lives in Kansas and is a U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen
The money test. The person must qualify for full Medicaid under Kansas’s rules for long-term care. Figures shown above are the 2026 Kansas long-term care limits from our state guide. KanCare’s countable assets do not usually include the home (within the equity limit, if the applicant or a spouse lives there or intends to return), one car, personal belongings and a small burial fund. Married couples get extra protection in Kansas: 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. KanCare’s assessment covers daily activities, from bathing and dressing to toileting and medications, plus memory and safety. For the FE Waiver, an assessor, usually a nurse or social worker, visits the person at home, in the hospital or in the facility. Have a relative present to describe the hard days, and keep a medication and diagnosis list handy. 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:
- Personal care
- Help with household tasks
- Adult day care
- Home modifications
- Medical equipment
- Medication reminders
- Personal emergency response
- Wellness monitoring
No program pays for everything. The FE Waiver services are based on assessed need, and a family caregiver who is already helping is usually counted when the plan is written. When needs grow, request an updated assessment.
Directing your own care and paying family
FE Waiver personal care can be self-directed, with the participant hiring workers and a financial management service handling payroll.
How to apply
Applying usually involves two decisions: one about money (financial eligibility for Medicaid) and one about care needs. In plain terms, the steps are:
- Contact your local ADRC to request an FE Waiver assessment.
- Apply for KanCare (Medicaid).
- Complete the functional assessment.
- If placed on the waitlist, keep the ADRC informed.
- When a slot opens, choose a KanCare plan.
For the paperwork, use our documents checklist before applying for the FE Waiver; Applying for a waiver explains the general process.
Waiting lists
KDADS started a waitlist for the FE Waiver on July 6, 2026. New applicants assessed on or after that date are placed on the waitlist. People whose applications were already in process continue without interruption, and a crisis exception lets people in crisis skip the waitlist.
More on how lists work: Waiver waiting lists.
How it relates to nursing home Medicaid
The FE Waiver uses the same level of care and Kansas’s 2026 income rule ($2,982 a month) and asset limit as nursing home Medicaid. Nursing home care is not subject to the waitlist.
Where the nursing home rules still apply. Most money rules carry over from nursing home Medicaid. The five-year look-back for gifts generally applies, so a gift or transfer for less than fair value can cause a period when Medicaid will not pay for long-term care services. KanCare can also use estate recovery to seek repayment for long-term care services received after 55. Some participants pay a monthly share of income toward services.
If a nursing home becomes necessary. A Kansas nursing home resident keeps a 2026 personal needs allowance of $62 a month, and most other income goes to the facility. The state guide explains the nursing home side.
Tips for families
- Begin before it is urgent. Every step of the FE Waiver takes time, and an early request protects your place.
- Document everything, from forms and letters to who you spoke with at KanCare and when.
- Read every notice. If services are denied, cut or ended, the notice explains how to request a fair hearing and the deadline. Requesting one before the deadline often keeps services in place during the appeal.
- Report changes promptly, including income, assets, a move or a new living arrangement.
- Mark renewal dates. Eligibility and the care plan are usually reviewed annually; see Renewals.
- Protect a spouse at home. Spousal protections must be claimed; a certified Medicaid planner or legal aid office can explain them for your family.
Common questions
What counts as a crisis? KDADS sets the crisis criteria, and the ADRC applies them during the assessment.
Can family be paid? Self-directed personal care can include some family members.
Was there always a waitlist? No. The FE waitlist began July 6, 2026.
Related pages
- Kansas Long-Term Care Medicaid guide
- Waiver waiting lists
- 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.