Don’t Wait: How Applying Early for Colorado’s Medicaid Waiver Could Save You Years

When I first heard about Colorado Medicaid Waivers, I assumed it would be a fast process. I had the paperwork. I had the diagnosis. I was ready. But what I didn’t have was time, and I didn’t know that until it was almost too late.

The waiver process isn’t just a form, it’s access to 24/7 care, paid caregiver support, habilitation services, and a real shot at long-term independence for your disabled loved one. But it’s also the most backed-up waiver in Colorado, some waitlists have a 10-15 year line.

And that’s why I created Navigating Disabilities Colorado (NDC): to help families like mine stop waiting, and start doing.

What Most Families Don’t Know

A Colorado Medicaid Waiver isn’t something you apply for when your loved one“needs it”, because by the time you think you need it, you’re already behind.

Here’s the hard truth:

According to recent state estimates and local disability advocates, Colorado’s DD waiver has 3,000 waiting for enrollment. That’s years of:

• Missed caregiver pay

• Gaps in habilitation or skill-building services

• Delayed access to full-time residential or community care

• Total burnout for parents and unpaid caregivers
  

What You Can Do Right Now

You don’t have to wait in the dark, not anymore. Here’s what I help families do every day inside the Roadmap for the Waiver Journey:

1. Get clarity on which waiver is right for your situation
   (DD vs SLS? CHRP? CES? I break it down clearly.)

2. Submit the application with documentation that actually gets flagged as complete
   Not all medical or school records are treated equally, I'll show you how to use the right ones.

3. Understand the role of the case management agency
   And why they may not help you beyond basic processing.

4. Explore other services you can use while you wait
   Like respite care grants, temporary supports, and how to stack SLS or CHRP benefits strategically.
   

Where to Start

You don’t need a deep dive. You just need the first step. That’s why I created these free tools for Colorado families:

• Waiver Matching Quiz – Find out which waiver your child is most likely to qualify for

• Live Info Session – Join me weekly to get your questions answered in real time

• Respite Care Guide – Start lining up backup care and sanity-saving options today
  
  

Why Timing Matters

If your child is currently using a CES or CHRP waiver and you don’t apply for the DD waiver before they age out, you may lose continuity of services.

If your adult child is already out of school and you haven’t applied, every month that passes is another opportunity missed.

And if you’re overwhelmed by the process, I get it. That’s why I built NDC, to walk you through it like I wish someone had done for me.

Next Step

If you want help now, not years from now, here’s how to start:

Comment WAIVER and I’ll send you my free checklist for medicaid waiver planning. Or head to the Resources Page to explore at your own pace.

Don’t wait to get on the list. Start building the plan today.