Why do I have to reapply for Medicaid if I have the Florida Medicaid Waiver?
Today’s question comes from a Facebook follower. She asks, “I have the Waiver; why am I being asked to reapply for Medicaid?”
The short answer is that you never have to re-qualify for the Waiver. However, because it’s a Medicaid Waiver, you must have Medicaid, and Medicaid has to be re-determined every year. It’s a little different for someone on the Waiver who is not receiving Medicaid on an income basis. It’s another type of Medicaid.
When you do the Medicaid renewal, there are specific boxes, either online or in the paper form (they’re trying to do away with the paper form). The new online platform and the paper form all have options for someone on the Waiver. They call it the HCBS Waiver or the Home and Community-Based Waiver.
It’s not that you have to reapply for or be re-determined for Waiver eligibility, but Medicaid has its own rules and guidelines. And you do have to do your Medicaid renewals every year. I highly recommend you stay on top of it. But DCF has been a bit of a mess with the new rollout of their new online platform. Some of the rules that apply haven’t been used lately.
We advise parents to stay proactive and communicate with their support coordinator as regularly as possible.
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Don't delay on your Waiver Application!
If you haven’t applied for the Florida Medwaiver Waitlist, make this a priority! Check out our Getting Started page for all the steps in the Florida Medicaid Waiver journey: