Thousands of Hoosiers stuck on Medicaid waitlist
RICHMOND, Ind. (WISH) — James Hobgood lives just yards away from the senior apartment he wants, but it might as well be miles.
Hobgood rents space above an office that belongs to a family friend. He’s in his early 70s and struggles to get up and down the two flights of stairs leading to his apartment. He says his mobility problems mean he doesn’t leave his apartment unless he has to, such as to buy groceries.
Barely a block away stands The Leland Legacy, a senior care community housed in a historic hotel. Hobgood has signed up for an apartment there. The apartment is vacant and ready for him to move in. There is just one problem: Hobgood relies on Social Security income and can’t afford the apartment without a PathWays to Aging Medicaid waiver . He’s been on the waitlist since the end of May.
“I don’t even think about it anymore,” he said. “I just don’t think it’s going to happen.”
Hobgood is one of nearly 9,000 people Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) officials said are on the waitlist for waivers for the PathWays to Aging program, a program that allows low-income elderly people to use Medicaid to help cover the costs of assistive care. Another 4,600 are waiting for Health and Wellness waivers, a related program for people 59 and younger.