Navigating Medicaid Waiver Waitlists in Texas: What Dallas Families Should Know

Not every Texas Medicaid waiver program is available immediately — and for Dallas
families with loved ones who need care now, hitting a waitlist feels like running into a
wall. The good news: one of the most important programs doesn’t have a waitlist. The
strategy is knowing which door to walk through first.

Which Programs Have Waitlists

CLASS (Community Living Assistance and Support Services) has historically
maintained a significant waitlist in Texas. Families may wait months or years for a slot.
CLASS serves individuals with conditions related to intellectual disability and offers a
comprehensive service package including habilitation, attendant care, therapies, and
adaptive aids.

MDCP (Medically Dependent Children Program) also carries a waitlist. MDCP serves
medically fragile children up to age 21 who would otherwise need nursing facility care.

DBMD (Deaf-Blind with Multiple Disabilities) has limited slots and periodic waitlists.

Texas Home Living Waiver for individuals with intellectual and developmental
disabilities may also have availability constraints depending on current enrollment.

Which Program Doesn’t Have a Waitlist

STAR+PLUS HCBS does not typically have a waitlist. This is the most important fact
in this article. STAR+PLUS serves adults 21+ with disabilities and those 65+, and its
Home and Community-Based Services are generally available once eligibility is
established.

STAR+PLUS covers personal attendant services, homemaker support, adaptive aids,
emergency response, and respite care. And critically, it includes Consumer Directed
Services — meaning a family member can be hired and paid as the caregiver.

For most Dallas families, STAR+PLUS is the fastest path to paid family caregiving.

The Two-Track Strategy

In our experience, the families who handle waitlists most effectively pursue two tracks
simultaneously.

Track 1: Apply for the waitlisted program now. Even if CLASS or MDCP has a wait, applying establishes your loved one’s place in line. The earlier you apply, the sooner a
slot opens. Don’t wait until the need becomes urgent — apply the moment you know
your loved one qualifies.

Track 2: Enroll in STAR+PLUS for immediate services. While waiting for a CLASS or
MDCP slot, STAR+PLUS can provide the core services your family needs right now —
including paying a family member as a caregiver through CDS. The service package isn’t
as comprehensive as CLASS or MDCP (no habilitation services, for example), but the
personal care and attendant services cover the daily caregiving that matters most.

When a slot opens in the waitlisted program, the family transitions to the more
comprehensive waiver while maintaining the CDS arrangement. The paid family
caregiver structure carries over — only the funding source and additional available
services change.

What Happens While You Wait

The waitlist isn’t a black hole. HHSC maintains interest lists for each waiver program,
and families are contacted as slots open. However, the timeline is unpredictable — some
families wait six months, others wait two years. During the wait, you should maintain
contact with HHSC if your family’s contact information changes, respond promptly to
any notifications (a missed response can mean losing your spot), use STAR+PLUS CDS
to get the family caregiver compensated now, and document your loved one’s ongoing
needs, as the waitlisted program will reassess eligibility when a slot opens.

What We Tell Dallas Families

The waitlist is frustrating, but it’s not a reason to do nothing. The worst outcome is a
family who learns about CLASS or MDCP, sees the waitlist, gets discouraged, and
doesn’t apply for anything — neither the waitlisted program nor STAR+PLUS.

In our experience, the families who take action on both tracks end up in the strongest
position: they’re receiving STAR+PLUS services and CDS payments now, their loved
one’s waitlist position is advancing, and when the comprehensive waiver opens up,
they’re ready to transition seamlessly.

CareChoice helps Dallas families with both tracks. We navigate the STAR+PLUS
enrollment for immediate services while ensuring the waitlisted program application is
filed and maintained.

Don’t wait to get started → Contact CareChoice in Dallas

Written by Shamere Dunswell, Community Relations Manager | CareChoice

Related: Get Paid to Care for Family in TX → | CLASS Waiver →| STAR+PLUS
in Dallas →