Colorado Medicaid pays for long-term care in your own home or community, not only in a nursing home, and Colorado Medicaid HCBS waivers are how most families reach that coverage.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov — CO Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (HCBS-EBD) Waiver (0006.R09.00). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/81121 The main pathway for older adults is the Home and Community-Based Services waiver for people who are Elderly, Blind, or Disabled, usually shortened to the EBD waiver, which the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) runs under Health First Colorado, the state's Medicaid program, as a federally approved 1915(c) waiver.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov — CO Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (HCBS-EBD) Waiver (0006.R09.00). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/81121 To use the EBD waiver, a person has to need a nursing-facility level of care, the kind of daily help a nursing home provides, but they receive that care at home instead.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov — CO Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (HCBS-EBD) Waiver (0006.R09.00). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/81121
In This Guide
- What Colorado Medicaid HCBS Waivers Are
- The EBD Waiver: Colorado's Main HCBS Pathway
- Do You Qualify for Colorado Medicaid HCBS Waivers?
- What the EBD Waiver Covers
- Waitlists and How Enrollment Works
- How to Apply for the EBD Waiver
What Colorado Medicaid HCBS Waivers Are
Home- and community-based services, or HCBS, is the part of Medicaid that pays for long-term care delivered outside of an institution: in your own home, a family member's home, or a community setting rather than a nursing facility. States deliver these services using federal authorities, and the one Colorado uses for older adults is Section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act, which lets a state waive certain Medicaid rules so it can cover home-based supports for people who would otherwise qualify for institutional care.
Here's the key idea behind every 1915(c) waiver, including Colorado's EBD waiver. To enroll, a person has to meet an institutional level of care, meaning they need long-term support at a level comparable to what a nursing facility typically provides, but the waiver lets them receive that care in the community instead.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov — CO Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (HCBS-EBD) Waiver (0006.R09.00). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/81121 The goal is to let people stay in familiar surroundings while still getting the daily help they need.
The EBD Waiver: Colorado's Main HCBS Pathway
The full name is the Home and Community-Based Services Waiver for persons who are Elderly, Blind, or Disabled, and it is the primary Medicaid home-care pathway for Colorado seniors. It is a CMS-approved 1915(c) waiver, control number 0006.R09.00, administered by HCPF under Health First Colorado.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov — CO Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (HCBS-EBD) Waiver (0006.R09.00). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/81121 The current federal approval runs with an effective date of July 1, 2022 and an expiration of June 30, 2027, so the program is active and funded through that period.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov — CO Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (HCBS-EBD) Waiver (0006.R09.00). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/81121
The waiver exists to serve a specific group. It provides assistance to people ages 65 and older who have a functional impairment, people who are blind, and people ages 18 to 64 who are physically disabled or have a diagnosis of HIV or AIDS, in each case when the person needs long-term supports and services in order to stay in a community setting rather than move into a nursing facility.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov — CO Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (HCBS-EBD) Waiver (0006.R09.00). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/81121 If that describes your parent, your spouse, or you, the EBD waiver is usually the right door to knock on first.
Do You Qualify for Colorado Medicaid HCBS Waivers?
Qualifying for the EBD waiver comes down to two tests, one about your care needs and one about your finances. Both have to be met.
The functional test. You must require an institutional, or nursing-facility, level of care, meaning long-term support at a level comparable to services a nursing facility typically provides.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov — CO Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (HCBS-EBD) Waiver (0006.R09.00). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/81121 A trained assessor reviews your ability to handle daily activities to make this determination. The point of the test is not to move you into a facility; it is to confirm you need that intensity of help so the waiver can provide it at home.
The financial test. The EBD waiver uses the state's long-term care financial rules. Your countable income must be less than three times the current federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) limit per month, and your countable resources must be less than $2,000 for a single person or less than $3,000 for a couple.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov — CO Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (HCBS-EBD) Waiver (0006.R09.00). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/81121 Not everything you own counts toward that resource limit, and the income and asset rules can get detailed, so it is worth reading our guide to Colorado Medicaid income and asset limits alongside this one.
What the EBD Waiver Covers
The EBD waiver's own service menu is built around supports that help someone live safely in the community. Covered EBD waiver services include:Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov — CO Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (HCBS-EBD) Waiver (0006.R09.00). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/81121
- Adult Day Services
- Alternative Care Facilities
- Home Accessibility Modifications and Adaptations
- Life Skills Training
- Non-Medical Transportation
- Peer Mentorship
- Respite
- A Wellness Education Benefit
Alongside those, the hands-on attendant help many families need most, personal care, homemaker services, home-delivered meals, health maintenance activities, medication reminders, a personal emergency response system (PERS), and remote supports, is delivered through the Community First Choice (CFC) benefit rather than through the waiver itself.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov — CO Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (HCBS-EBD) Waiver (0006.R09.00). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/81121 Community First Choice is a Health First Colorado benefit, not a waiver, and its attendant services can be self-directed, meaning you help choose and manage your own caregivers, through Consumer Directed Attendant Support Services (CDASS) or In-Home Support Services (IHSS).Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov — CO Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (HCBS-EBD) Waiver (0006.R09.00). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/81121
Waitlists and How Enrollment Works
A common worry is whether you'll be stuck on a waiting list. HCPF's guidance is measured here: it notes that waivers have extra program rules and sometimes have waitlists.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov — CO Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (HCBS-EBD) Waiver (0006.R09.00). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/81121 Whether the EBD waiver has an open interest list at any given moment can change, so the reliable move is to ask your local Case Management Agency about current timing rather than assume one way or the other.
Enrollment runs through your Case Management Agency, the local organization that assesses your needs and coordinates waiver services. If you are already enrolled in Health First Colorado, you start the waiver application by contacting your local Case Management Agency directly.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov — CO Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (HCBS-EBD) Waiver (0006.R09.00). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/81121 If you are not yet enrolled in Health First Colorado, you apply for that coverage first, and then pursue the waiver.
How to Apply for the EBD Waiver
Applying happens in two layers: getting Health First Colorado coverage if you don't already have it, and then getting onto the waiver.
Apply for Health First Colorado. Federal Medicaid rules require the state to let you apply through several channels, so you can apply online, by phone, by mail, or in person.U.S. Government Publishing Office. (n.d.). 42 CFR 435.907 — Application (eCFR, current). ecfr.gov. Retrieved Jul 13, 2026, from https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/section-435.907 Once you apply, the state has a limited window to decide: federal rules cap the determination at 45 calendar days for most applicants, and 90 calendar days when the application is based on disability.U.S. Government Publishing Office. (2024). 42 CFR 435.912 Timely determination and redetermination of eligibility (2024 ed.) — govinfo.gov. govinfo.gov. Retrieved Jun 25, 2026, from https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2024-title42-vol4/pdf/CFR-2024-title42-vol4-sec435-912.pdf
Start the waiver. Contact your local Case Management Agency to begin the EBD waiver application and schedule your level-of-care assessment.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov — CO Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (HCBS-EBD) Waiver (0006.R09.00). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/81121 If you have questions or need help finding your Case Management Agency, you can reach the HCPF Member Contact Center at 1-800-221-3943 (State Relay: 711).Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov — CO Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (HCBS-EBD) Waiver (0006.R09.00). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/81121 For coverage that pays for a nursing home instead of home care, see our guide to Colorado Medicaid and nursing home care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the EBD waiver have a waiting list?
Sometimes. The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) notes that its Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers can carry waitlists, and whether an interest list is open changes over time and from one area to the next, so there is no permanent yes-or-no.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov — CO Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (HCBS-EBD) Waiver (0006.R09.00). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/81121 The fastest way to learn the current status where you live is to call the HCPF Member Contact Center at 1-800-221-3943 (State Relay: 711), which can point you to the Case Management Agency that handles Elderly, Blind, or Disabled (EBD) waiver enrollment for your county.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov — CO Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (HCBS-EBD) Waiver (0006.R09.00). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/81121
Can I hire a family member or manage my own caregivers?
You can direct your own attendant care. The hands-on personal care under the EBD waiver is delivered through the Community First Choice benefit, and those attendant services can be self-directed through Consumer Directed Attendant Support Services (CDASS) or In-Home Support Services (IHSS).Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov — CO Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (HCBS-EBD) Waiver (0006.R09.00). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/81121 Self-direction means you help choose, schedule, and manage the people who provide your care. Ask your Case Management Agency how CDASS and IHSS work for your situation.
How is the EBD waiver different from a nursing home?
The care level is the same; the setting is not. To qualify for the EBD waiver, you must need a nursing-facility level of care, meaning long-term support comparable to what a nursing home provides.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov — CO Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (HCBS-EBD) Waiver (0006.R09.00). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/81121 The difference is that the waiver delivers that support in your own home or community so you can stay there, while nursing-home Medicaid pays for care inside a facility. Many people who could enter a nursing home choose the waiver specifically to remain at home.
How long does approval take once I apply for Health First Colorado?
Plan for two separate clocks. The first is the Health First Colorado eligibility decision itself, which federal rules cap at no more than 45 calendar days for most applicants, or 90 calendar days when the application is based on disability.U.S. Government Publishing Office. (2024). 42 CFR 435.912 Timely determination and redetermination of eligibility (2024 ed.) — govinfo.gov. govinfo.gov. Retrieved Jun 25, 2026, from https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2024-title42-vol4/pdf/CFR-2024-title42-vol4-sec435-912.pdf The waiver runs on its own track after that: once your coverage is approved, your Case Management Agency schedules the level-of-care assessment that gets you onto the EBD waiver, so build in time for that second step beyond the initial eligibility window.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov — CO Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (HCBS-EBD) Waiver (0006.R09.00). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/81121
Learn More
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The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.