How do I apply for the Medi-Cal institutional deeming waiver?

Once the Regional Center refers your child for Medi-Cal’s HCBS-DD waiver, you will receive a thick packet of paperwork in the mail. Ordinarily, families filling out this paperwork need to establish that their income falls below a certain threshold in order to qualify for the program. However, because only families with excess income can qualify for the waiver, the main purpose of this application for families above the income threshold is to establish that the child doesn’t qualify for Medi-Cal on an income basis. This means it’s usually not necessary to provide a detailed list of all your assets. Some Regional Centers have a designated Medi-Cal specialist who can set up an appointment with you to help you fill out this paperwork. Ask your child’s service coordinator whether this option is available to you.

For more information about this waiver, see our article Medi-Cal’s Institutional Deeming Waiver 101.