If you or your family member is on Indiana Medicaid and needs a ramp, a stair lift, or a widened doorway, a home and community-based waiver may help pay for it. Indiana Medicaid is run by the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA). Home modifications are a covered service called Home Modification (HOM), available through more than one FSSA waiver depending on age.
What Indiana offers#
On July 1, 2024, FSSA split its former Aged and Disabled Waiver into two separate programs. The Indiana PathWays for Aging Waiver now serves people age 60 and older, and it works through managed care plans that authorize services. The Health and Wellness Waiver serves people age 59 and under, and it works through case management under FSSA's Division of Aging and Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services (DDRS) structure. A separate Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) waiver also exists for people with a qualifying brain injury diagnosis.
The good news is that the age split does not leave anyone without a path to funded home modifications. FSSA lists Home Modification as a covered service under PathWays, Health and Wellness, and the TBI waiver alike. State examples of covered work include bathroom and kitchen modifications, ramps, vertical or stair lifts, widened doorways, adaptive door openers and locks, home safety devices, and hand-held shower heads. Whichever waiver applies based on age, the modification benefit itself works the same way.
Amounts and eligibility#
FSSA publishes a lifetime cap for the Home Modification service: $20,000 per person. On top of that, FSSA allows a separate $1,000 annual allowance for repairing already-installed modifications, so equipment like a stair lift or ramp can be maintained after the initial project. For any single modification estimated above $5,000, FSSA requires two contractor bids before it approves the work.
To use either waiver, a person generally must meet Indiana Medicaid's financial rules and need a nursing-facility level of care, the same core medical gate used across the country's Medicaid home and community-based waiver system. FSSA's Division of Family Resources determines financial eligibility on a case-by-case basis. Indiana's published waiver and HOM pages do not list a specific consumer income dollar figure, though many state Medicaid programs apply a special income rule tied to a percentage of the federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit rate. Only FSSA or your local eligibility office can confirm whether someone meets the requirements. Checked against FSSA's public HOM service definition and waiver pages, July 2026.
How to apply in Indiana#
Start by contacting one of Indiana's 16 Area Agencies on Aging (AAA). Each AAA handles waiver intake and the initial assessment that determines which waiver fits, based on age and level of care needed. Use the FSSA locator to find the AAA covering your county.
After intake, the path differs slightly by age. People 60 and older enrolled in PathWays for Aging work through their assigned managed care plan, which authorizes and coordinates Home Modification services going forward. People 59 and under on the Health and Wellness Waiver work through a case manager under the DDRS and Division of Aging structure instead.
Indiana's member-facing waiver pages do not publish a consumer waitlist for either PathWays or Health and Wellness, so avoid any source that quotes a specific number of people waiting or an average wait time. Expect timelines to vary by county and by how quickly assessment paperwork is completed. If a modification estimate comes in above $5,000, plan extra time to gather two contractor bids before FSSA can approve the project.
For general help navigating either waiver, your local AAA is the front door. The federal Eldercare Locator (eldercare.acl.gov, 1-800-677-1116) is a fallback if you are unsure which AAA serves your area.
How it stacks with federal programs#
If the person needing modifications is a veteran, ask about VA housing grants alongside Indiana Medicaid. Programs like Specially Adapted Housing can fund larger accessibility projects and may work alongside a Medicaid waiver rather than instead of one. See our VA home modification grants guide.
Original Medicare does not cover structural home modifications. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer supplemental benefits such as grab bars or ramps, but coverage is entirely plan-specific with no standard amount. Call your plan directly to ask what it covers.
Finding a provider who knows this program: Not every contractor has handled FSSA's Home Modification paperwork or the two-bid rule above $5,000. Adapta Home USA verifies providers' Medicaid Waiver Billing experience, so you can filter for pros who have done this before. Find Home Modifications & Remodeling providers with Medicaid Waiver Billing experience →
For the bigger picture on combining programs, see our national Medicaid waiver guide and our full guide to paying for home modifications.
FAQ#
Does Indiana Medicaid pay for home modifications like ramps or stair lifts?#
Yes. Home Modification is a covered service under the PathWays for Aging Waiver, the Health and Wellness Waiver, and the TBI waiver. Covered examples include ramps, stair lifts, bathroom and kitchen modifications, and widened doorways.
How much will Indiana's waivers pay toward home modifications?#
FSSA publishes a lifetime cap of $20,000 per person for Home Modification services, plus a separate $1,000 annual allowance for repairs to equipment already installed. Any single modification over $5,000 needs two contractor bids before approval.
What changed when the Aged and Disabled Waiver split in 2024?#
Effective July 1, 2024, FSSA replaced its Aged and Disabled Waiver with two programs based on age. PathWays for Aging serves people 60 and older through managed care plans. Health and Wellness serves people 59 and under through case management. Both cover Home Modification, so the change affects which office manages your case, not whether modifications are covered.
How do I apply for home modification help through Indiana Medicaid?#
Contact your local Area Agency on Aging to begin intake and assessment. Indiana has 16 AAAs statewide. From there, PathWays members work through their managed care plan, while Health and Wellness participants work through a case manager.
Find a verified provider near you#
Adapta Home USA's directory lets you search Home Modifications & Remodeling providers by state and filter for Medicaid Waiver Billing experience. Our stair lift cost guide and wheelchair ramp cost guide can help you budget while your application moves through FSSA. Browse verified Indiana home modification providers →
This article is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your specific situation.
Program amounts, eligibility rules, and application procedures change. Figures on this page were verified against official government sources on the date shown, but you should confirm current details at VA.gov or with the administering agency before making decisions. Adapta Home USA is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or any government agency.