Key takeaway
Kansas pays family caregivers through KanCare HCBS waivers, especially the Frail Elderly (FE) Waiver for adults 65+ and the Physical Disability (PD) Waiver for adults 16 to 64. Both allow self-direction so the care recipient can hire a family member.
- FE Waiver: Pays family caregivers for adults 65+ under KanCare; spouses and legal guardians are excluded.
- PD Waiver: Pays family caregivers for adults 16 to 64 with physical disabilities; consumer-directed.
- Self-Directed services: Allow the care recipient to hire, train, and supervise the family attendant.
- Veterans: Aid & Attendance and Veteran Directed Care can pay family, including spouses under VDC.
Overview
Kansas Medicaid (KanCare) is administered through three managed care organizations and the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS). Paid family caregiving in Kansas runs primarily through KanCare HCBS waivers. The Frail Elderly (FE) Waiver serves adults 65 and older, and the Physical Disability (PD) Waiver serves adults 16 to 64 with significant physical disabilities. Both include self-directed services that let the participant hire a family member as their paid attendant.
Spouses, legal guardians, and parents of minors are generally excluded from being paid under KanCare. Veterans have separate VA pathways, including Veteran Directed Care which is the one option that can pay a spouse. Kansas Area Agencies on Aging also coordinate non-Medicaid caregiver supports such as respite and training.
Programs that pay family caregivers in Kansas
| Program (Type) | Care recipient eligibility | Paid family caregiver provisions |
|---|---|---|
| Frail Elderly (FE) Waiver (KanCare 1915(c) waiver) | Kansas residents 65+ who meet nursing-facility level of care and Medicaid financial limits. | Self-directed Personal Services pay family caregivers; spouses, legal guardians, and parents of minors are excluded. |
| Physical Disability (PD) Waiver (KanCare 1915(c) waiver) | Kansas residents 16 to 64 with significant physical disabilities meeting nursing-facility level of care. | Self-directed Personal Care Services allow hiring family caregivers (not spouses or legal guardians). |
| Intellectual/Developmental Disability (I/DD) Waiver (KanCare 1915(c) waiver) | Kansans with an intellectual or developmental disability who meet ICF/IID level of care. | Allows self-directed supports paid to qualifying family caregivers under waiver rules. |
| Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Waiver (KanCare 1915(c) waiver) | Kansans 16+ with a documented traumatic brain injury and rehab potential. | Personal care and similar services that can be delivered by family caregivers under self-direction. |
| Aid & Attendance Pension (VA benefit) | Wartime veteran or surviving spouse who needs help with daily activities and meets VA pension rules. | Increases the veteran's pension to cover care costs; can pay adult children and relatives. Spouses are not paid directly. |
| Veteran Directed Care (VDC) (VA program) | Veterans in VA health care needing nursing-home level care and living in a participating VAMC area. | Monthly care budget the veteran manages to hire caregivers, including spouses. |
Kansas Medicaid (KanCare) programs
KanCare is the umbrella for Kansas Medicaid. Paid family caregiving runs through KanCare HCBS waivers, with the Frail Elderly (FE) Waiver and Physical Disability (PD) Waiver being the most common pathways. Both use a self-directed model that lets the participant choose and supervise their attendant.
Frail Elderly (FE) Waiver
The FE Waiver serves Kansans 65 and older who would otherwise need nursing-home placement. It funds personal care, attendant services, and related supports so the participant can remain at home.
- Care recipient must be 65+ and meet nursing-facility level of care.
- Financial eligibility follows KanCare long-term care rules (income and asset limits).
- Self-directed Personal Services pay a family caregiver chosen by the participant.
- Spouses, legal guardians, and parents of minors are not eligible to be paid.
Physical Disability (PD) Waiver
The PD Waiver serves Kansans 16 to 64 with significant physical disabilities. It funds personal care and similar supports so participants can live independently.
- Must be 16 to 64 with a qualifying physical disability and meet nursing-facility level of care.
- Self-directed Personal Care Services allow hiring family caregivers (not spouses or legal guardians).
- A fiscal employer agent handles payroll for the family caregiver.
Kansas Area Agencies on Aging and Senior Care Act
Outside of KanCare, Kansas's 11 Area Agencies on Aging coordinate caregiver supports under the federal Older Americans Act and the Kansas Senior Care Act. These programs rarely replace a full caregiver wage but help cover the cost of providing care.
A Kansas-funded program that provides in-home services on a sliding fee scale for adults 60+ who do not qualify for Medicaid.
Counseling, training, respite vouchers, and supplemental supports for unpaid family caregivers of older adults.
Who qualifies
- Senior Care Act services target Kansans 60+ who need help with daily activities and are not on Medicaid.
- Family Caregiver Support is open to caregivers of adults 60+ or of any age with Alzheimer's/related dementia.
- Sliding fees and availability vary by AAA region.
Veterans' programs
Kansas veterans and surviving spouses can fund in-home care through VA benefits. The Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita and the Eastern Kansas VA Health Care System participate in the Caregiver Support Program and offer Veteran Directed Care in many of their service areas.
Aid & Attendance Pension
A&A increases a qualifying veteran's or surviving spouse's pension to cover care costs when they need help with daily activities. The boost can fund a family caregiver.
- Wartime service, ADL need, and income/asset limits required.
- Commonly used to pay adult children and relatives.
- Spouses cannot be paid directly through A&A.
Veteran Directed Care (VDC)
VDC provides a monthly care budget the veteran manages with help from a financial management service. It is the only VA path that can pay a spouse.
- For veterans meeting nursing-home level of care in VA health care.
- Family caregivers, including spouses, can be hired.
- Availability depends on participating Kansas VAMCs.
Long-term care insurance
A qualifying long-term care insurance policy may pay benefits used to compensate a family caregiver depending on policy terms.
What to check in the policy
- Policy must cover in-home personal care, not just nursing-facility care.
- Cash/indemnity policies that pay the policyholder directly are the most flexible.
If the policy only reimburses licensed agencies, families sometimes have the caregiver hired through a licensed Kansas home care agency so the insurer will pay.
How to apply in Kansas (step-by-step)
- Identify the path: FE Waiver (65+), PD Waiver (16 to 64), I/DD or TBI waivers, Senior Care Act, VA benefits, or LTC insurance.
- Gather documents: ID, proof of Kansas residency, income/asset records, medical history, and (for veterans) DD-214.
- Contact the right agency:
- FE/PD Waiver: contact KDADS or your local Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) for an HCBS assessment.
- I/DD Waiver: contact your local Community Developmental Disability Organization (CDDO).
- Senior Care Act: call your local Kansas Area Agency on Aging.
- VA paths: speak with a VA social worker at the Robert J. Dole VAMC or the Eastern Kansas VA Health Care System.
- Complete a functional level-of-care assessment and a financial review through KanCare.
- Choose self-direction, identify your family caregiver, and enroll with the fiscal employer agent for payroll.
- Begin services; submit timesheets and care notes; renew annually.
Kansas paid caregiver FAQs
Can a spouse be paid as a caregiver in Kansas?
No under KanCare HCBS waivers (FE, PD, I/DD, or TBI). A spouse can be paid as a caregiver under VA Veteran Directed Care when the veteran qualifies.
How much do caregivers get paid in Kansas?
Self-directed personal care wages under the FE and PD Waivers typically fall in the range of about $12 to $17 per hour, with rates set within KanCare guidelines and the chosen MCO.
Can I be paid to care for my parent in Kansas?
Yes. Adult children are commonly paid through the FE Waiver self-directed Personal Services. VA A&A and VDC also allow paying adult children.
What is the difference between the FE Waiver and the PD Waiver in Kansas?
The FE Waiver serves adults 65 and older. The PD Waiver serves adults 16 to 64 with significant physical disabilities. Both pay family caregivers under self-direction.
How long does the FE or PD Waiver take to approve in Kansas?
Once you contact KDADS or the ADRC and complete the assessment, enrollment typically takes several weeks. Medicaid financial eligibility can add time if not already established.
