Texas Medicaid Waivers for Autism Families

If your child has autism in Texas, some of the most valuable long-term support comes through Medicaid waiver programs. These help pay for services like therapy, respite care, and support beyond what standard insurance covers. The catch: the waitlists ("interest lists") are long, often many years, so the single most important step is to get your child's name on the lists as early as possible, even before you think you need them.

The main Texas waivers families ask about

• CLASS (Community Living Assistance and Support Services) — for people with a related condition (including many autistic individuals) that began before age 22.
• HCS (Home and Community-based Services) — for individuals with an intellectual disability or a related condition; provides a broad range of long-term supports.
• TxHmL (Texas Home Living) — a more limited set of community supports for people who live in their own or family home.
• MDCP (Medically Dependent Children Program) — for children with complex medical needs, offering respite and support to keep them at home.

How to get on the interest lists

You add your child to the waiver interest lists through your Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability Authority (LIDDA) for CLASS, HCS, and TxHmL, and through Texas Health and Human Services for MDCP. There is no cost to be on a list, and being on more than one is allowed. Because the wait can be long, families are encouraged to sign up right away.

Official information and how to apply is on the Texas Health and Human Services disability services pages. This guide is a starting point, not legal or medical advice — confirm current details with HHS and your LIDDA.