---
title: "Home and community-based services waiver: Definition"
description: "A home and community-based services (HCBS) waiver is a Medicaid program that pays for care at home or in the community instead of in a nursing home. States..."
url: https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/home-and-community-based-services-waiver/
publisher: HomeCare.com
phone: 800-974-3458
start: https://care.homecare.com/?source=homecare.com
---

Paying for care

# Home and community-based services (HCBS) waiver

A home and community-based services (HCBS) waiver is a Medicaid program that pays for care at home or in the community instead of in a nursing home. States design waivers within federal guidelines. Each waiver serves a target group and requires that the person need an institutional level of care.

## Why it matters for your family

A waiver can pay for services such as case management, homemaker help, personal care, adult day health, and respite care. States choose how many people a waiver can serve, so some have waiting lists. Each state also names its waiver programs, so a family must search by state. Picture a father who needs nursing home level care but wants to stay in his own home. A waiver may pay for the help that makes that possible. A common mistake is to think a waiver is open to all. Financial rules, level of care rules, and slot limits apply.

Source: [medicaid.gov](https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/home-community-based-services/home-community-based-services-authorities/home-community-based-services-1915c/index.html)

[Read more: Paying for care](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/paying-for-care/)

## Related terms

-   [**Level of care assessment**A level of care assessment is an evaluation that decides whether a person needs the level of care that a nursing facility provides.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/level-of-care-assessment/)
-   [**Medicaid waiver waitlist**A Medicaid waiver waitlist is a list of people who qualify for a home and community-based waiver but cannot enroll yet because the state has no open slot.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/medicaid-waiver-waitlist/)
-   [**Medicaid eligibility**Medicaid eligibility for long-term care depends on need, income, and assets.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/medicaid-eligibility/)
-   [**Participant-directed Medicaid program**A participant-directed Medicaid program lets a person, or a representative, direct their own Medicaid-funded services.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/participant-directed-medicaid-program/)
-   [**Medicaid personal care services**Medicaid personal care services are hands-on help with daily activities that Medicaid pays for.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/medicaid-personal-care-services/)
-   [**Medicaid**Medicaid is a joint federal and state health coverage program for people with limited income and resources.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/medicaid/)

[All glossary terms](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/)

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