Florida Medicaid Waiver for Dementia: Tampa

What is Florida's Medicaid long-term care program for dementia?

It is the SMMC LTC program, a statewide Medicaid program that pays for long-term care services through managed care plans rather than one state-run list of providers (Florida Department of Elder Affairs).

Florida does not run a separate program only for dementia on the page we reviewed. Dementia is a condition that affects memory, thinking and daily function (CDC), and those daily-function needs are what long-term care services are meant to address. Medicaid is one of the ways people pay for long-term care (NIA).

What services do the managed care plans have to offer?

Every managed care plan must offer the same minimum list of services, including personal care, adult companion care, respite, adult day care and caregiver training (Florida Department of Elder Affairs).

For a family in Tampa, these map onto services you may already be comparing, such as personal care, companion care and respite care. Which services a person actually receives, and how many hours, is decided through the plan and the assessment process, so ask the plan directly.

What is the dementia-specific eligibility threshold?

There is no dementia-specific threshold on the program page we reviewed; eligibility turns on age, Medicaid eligibility and a nursing home level of care finding. A person must be 65 or over and eligible for Medicaid, or 18 or over and eligible for Medicaid by reason of a disability. The Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long-Term Care Services (CARES) unit at the Department of Elder Affairs must also find them at nursing home level of care and meeting one or more established clinical criteria (Florida Department of Elder Affairs).

The page does not describe a dementia-specific route. Ask the local Aging and Disability Resource Center how a dementia diagnosis is weighed in the CARES assessment. We cannot tell you how a particular person will be assessed, and this page is not medical advice.

What are the Florida Medicaid asset limits for long-term care?

The asset limit for a single applicant is set by Florida Medicaid financial eligibility rules, and the program page we reviewed does not state a figure, so we do not give one here.

For married couples, spousal impoverishment rules apply, and the same page does not state a couple's limit either. The look-back period for transferred assets follows standard Medicaid transfer-of-asset rules, again with no figure on that page. Confirm the current numbers with the office that administers the program, such as the Aging and Disability Resource Center, before you move or retitle any money or property. A Florida elder law attorney can also advise on your own situation.

How do you apply in Tampa?

Start by contacting the local Aging and Disability Resource Center, which is the contact point for the program's waitlist, or call the statewide Elder Helpline at 1-800-96-ELDER (Florida Department of Elder Affairs).

1. Call the Aging and Disability Resource Center serving Tampa, or the Elder Helpline, and ask to be placed on the waitlist.
2. Complete the CARES assessment of nursing home level of care, which enrollment depends on.
3. Once enrolled, choose a long-term care managed care plan with help from Florida's Choice Counseling service.
4. Receive services through that plan.

The program has a waitlist, so ask early how long the wait is likely to be and what else is available while you wait.

What can families do while waiting?

While you wait, families usually cover care privately, share it among relatives, or use short breaks. Our service can fit into that gap, though it is separate from the Medicaid program and does not replace the CARES assessment or a plan's authorization.

We help you find a caregiver for memory care at home. Caregivers are screened for dementia care experience, and you receive 3 to 5 video profiles within 48 hours. You watch each caregiver's video interview before deciding whom to meet, and that interview is how you judge fit for yourself. Ask any agency or caregiver, including us, about the checks, licensing and training you care about, and get the answers in writing.

If you need a break from caring, respite care is one option to consider. Other benefits may also be worth asking about, such as the VA Aid and Attendance benefit for eligible veterans.

Where can Tampa families get local support?

Local Alzheimer's Association chapters in Florida are a good place to ask about support groups and navigating care, and the Alzheimer's-specific information they offer is aimed at Alzheimer's disease in particular. Two chapter pages are the Alzheimer's Association Florida Gulf Coast chapter and the Alzheimer's Association South Florida chapter. Listing them here does not mean they endorse our service.

You can also look up home health agencies on Medicare's Care Compare tool, and look for a memory clinic or neurology or geriatric specialist through your family doctor. Contact the clinic through its own website or main line.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Florida have a Medicaid waiver just for dementia?

The program page we reviewed describes the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care Program, not a dementia-only waiver. Ask the local Aging and Disability Resource Center how a dementia diagnosis is considered in the CARES assessment.

What is the asset limit for Florida Medicaid long-term care?

It is set by Florida Medicaid financial eligibility rules, and spousal impoverishment rules apply to couples. We do not state a dollar figure, so confirm the current limit with the Aging and Disability Resource Center or the Medicaid office.

How do I apply for Medicaid long-term care in Tampa?

Contact the local Aging and Disability Resource Center or call the Elder Helpline at 1-800-96-ELDER. Enrollment depends on the CARES assessment, and then you choose a managed care plan with help from Choice Counseling.

Is there a waitlist?

Yes, the program has a waitlist, and the local Aging and Disability Resource Center is the contact for it. Ask about expected timing when you call.

What does the Medicaid managed care plan cover?

Each plan must offer the same minimum list of services, including personal care, adult companion care, respite, adult day care and caregiver training.