Medicaid is the nation’s primary health insurance program for people with disabilities, but it is so much more than health care. For individuals with disabilities and their families, Medicaid also funds vital supports to keep them in their communities.
For many people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), Medicaid generally is the only source of funds for them to live and work in the community with friends and families and avoid more costly and segregated nursing homes or institutions. Nationwide, state and federal Medicaid together provide over 75 percent of the funding for services for people with I/DD. However, many states have lengthy waiting lists for these vital services or are only able to provide limited supports to eligible people with I/DD.
