KFF: nearly 650,000 people wait for Medicaid home care
Published
AgingDisabilityPolicyAbout 650,000 people were on waiting or interest lists for Medicaid home and community-based services in 2026, according to a KFF analysis published Oct. 5.
Key findings:
- Waiting list totals rose about 7% from 2025.
- 40 states keep waiting or interest lists; 32 reported increases and 7 reported decreases.
- People with intellectual or developmental disabilities make up 72% of the list.
- The average wait is 34 months, 38 months for people with I/DD and 65 months for autism waivers.
Why it matters: Waiver slots fund services such as supported employment and round-the-clock support. KFF notes that waiting lists understate unmet need, and that pressure on state budgets could make lists longer.
Who it affects: People with I/DD and their families, older adults, state agencies and HCBS providers.
What's next: Starting in 2027, states must report waiting list data under the federal Medicaid access rule.
Source: KFF, "A Look at Waiting Lists for Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Services from 2016 to 2026," Oct. 5, 2026: https://www.kff.org/medicaid/a-look-at-waiting-lists-for-medicaid-home-and-community-based-services-from-2016-to-2026/