Medicaid for Autism: Funding Tips for Parents

In this episode, Mike Carr addresses growing concerns about potential Medicaid cuts and shares practical funding alternatives for families caring for individuals with profound autism or multiple disabilities. He emphasizes the importance of staying hopeful and proactive, offering guidance through his personal experience and upcoming book. Key alternatives discussed include Social Security benefits (SSI and SSDI), Medicaid waivers like CLASS and HCS (each with different funding caps and waitlists), and ABLE accounts, which allow families to save without affecting benefits. Mike encourages families to plan early, apply for multiple waivers, and reach out directly for support navigating these complex systems.

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction & Setting the Stage
• 2:51 Challenges of Transition & Funding
• 3:25 Funding Alternative #1: Social Security (SSI & SSDI)
• 5:20 Funding Alternative #2: Medicaid Waivers
• 7:30 Waiting Lists & Strategies for Waivers
• 8:41 Comparison of Waivers: CLASS vs. HCS
• 10:30 Funding Alternative #3: ABLE Accounts
• 13:30 Conclusion & Encouragement