Florida family guide

Florida Medicaid waivers for children with disabilities: iBudget, the waitlist, and how to apply

In Florida, the main Medicaid waiver for people with developmental disabilities is iBudget Florida, run by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD), and children can apply starting at age 3. APD assigns people who are found eligible to a pre-enrollment category (the waiting list), and waiver services depend on available funding, so the most useful thing you can do is apply early and ask about Medicaid programs your child can use in the meantime.

Last verified: September 2026

How to apply Which program fits?

The short answer

Five things you can do this week

  • Apply to APD now if your child is 3 or older and has a qualifying developmental disability. The online application is at applynow.apd.myflorida.com, or call APD at 1-866-APD-CARES (1-866-273-2273).
  • Make sure your child has Medicaid or is applying for it. iBudget requires Medicaid or SSI eligibility. Apply through MyACCESS or call the Medicaid Helpline at 1-877-254-1055.
  • If your child is under 3, APD refers families to Early Steps at 1-800-218-0001.
  • If your family is in crisis right now (for example homelessness, a caregiver who can no longer provide care, or behavior that could create a life-threatening situation), say so. The online system accepts crisis waiver enrollment requests, and APD asks families in crisis to contact the regional office for their county.
  • Gather records before you call: proof of identity, proof that you live in Florida, and every evaluation or school record that documents your child's diagnosis.

This guide is general information, not medical or legal advice. Rules change, and only the agency can decide eligibility. Please confirm details with APD at 1-866-APD-CARES or with the Florida Medicaid Helpline at 1-877-254-1055.

Programs at a glance

Five doors worth knocking on.

A waiver is one door. For many Florida children, regular Medicaid, the Children's Medical Services Health Plan, and PPEC centers can also help, and Early Steps serves children under 3. Here is what each one is, in the agency's own terms.

Waiver - Agency for Persons with Disabilities

iBudget Florida waiver

Who it is for
Floridians age 3 and older with a developmental disability that began before age 18, who meet APD eligibility, Medicaid or SSI eligibility, and an institutional level of care. APD calls it its "most traditional pathway to services."
What it can help with
Services are grouped into eight families, including respite care (for people under 21 living in the family home), durable medical equipment, consumable medical supplies, home accessibility adaptations, behavior analysis, speech, occupational and physical therapy, nursing, transportation, and support coordination.
How you get on it
Application to APD, then assignment to a pre-enrollment category. Enrollment offers depend on available funding and priority order.
Official page: APD iBudget Florida

Medicaid and KidCare plan - AHCA

Children's Medical Services (CMS) Health Plan

Who it is for
Children under 21 who are eligible for Florida Medicaid or Florida KidCare and have special health care needs that require extensive preventive and ongoing care, as confirmed by a clinical screening.
What it can help with
A managed care plan built for children with special health care needs. Each member gets a care manager who helps schedule appointments and connect the family to behavioral, developmental, and community services.
How you get on it
Clinical eligibility screening plus Medicaid or KidCare eligibility. Enrollment moved to the Agency for Health Care Administration on July 1, 2025. AHCA selected Molina Healthcare to take over the plan from Sunshine Health, and current members move to Molina automatically on October 1, 2026.
Official page: AHCA CMS Plan transition

Medicaid service - AHCA

Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care (PPEC)

Who it is for
Medicaid-eligible children from birth through age 20 with medically complex conditions. The coverage policy describes children who need continuous therapeutic interventions or skilled nursing supervision and are medically stable.
What it can help with
Up to 12 hours a day in a licensed, non-residential center, with nursing, personal care, developmental therapies, and caregiver training.
How you get on it
Services must be medically necessary and approved through prior authorization. AHCA contracts with eQHealth Solutions for utilization management, including prior authorization of PPEC.
Official page: AHCA PPEC

Foundation - DCF and AHCA

Florida Medicaid for children (including EPSDT)

Who it is for
Children who meet Medicaid rules. In Florida, eligibility is decided by the Department of Children and Families, or by the Social Security Administration for SSI recipients.
What it can help with
For children under 21, the federal EPSDT benefit requires states to cover medically necessary services "needed to correct and ameliorate health conditions." It is also the gateway to iBudget, the CMS Plan, and PPEC.
How you get on it
Application through MyACCESS. Questions go to the Medicaid Helpline, Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm Eastern.
Official page: AHCA recipient resources

Under age 3 - Department of Health

Early Steps

Who it is for
Infants and toddlers from birth to 36 months who have, or are at risk for, developmental disabilities or delays. APD services start at age 3, so this is where younger children begin.
What it can help with
Early intervention services for eligible infants and toddlers.
How you get on it
Call Early Steps at 1-800-218-0001, the number APD lists for children under 3.
Official page: Florida Early Steps

Not sure what things cost without coverage? Our therapy and equipment cost explorer gives a sense of scale, and the Medicaid waiver state finder covers other states if you are moving.

Interactive

Which program should I ask about?

Answer four quick questions. We will highlight the program cards above that are worth asking about. This is a starting point only. The agency makes every eligibility decision.

How to apply, step by step

From first call to first letter.

  1. Start with Medicaid

    iBudget, the CMS Plan, and PPEC all run through Medicaid (the CMS Plan also serves KidCare members). Apply at myaccess.myflfamilies.com. For help, call the Medicaid Helpline at 1-877-254-1055 (TDD 1-866-467-4970). APD also lists Florida KidCare at 1-888-540-KIDS (5437) and DCF Medicaid at 1-866-762-2237.

  2. Check the APD basics

    APD pre-screens for three things: your child is 3 or older, lives in Florida, and has a developmental disability that showed up before age 18. Qualifying conditions are intellectual disabilities (Full Scale IQ of 70 or below), severe forms of autism, spina bifida cystica or myelomeningocele, cerebral palsy, Prader-Willi syndrome, Down syndrome, Phelan-McDermid syndrome, Tatton-Brown-Rahman syndrome, and children ages 3 to 5 at high risk for a developmental disability. See our pages on autism, cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome.

  3. Submit the APD application

    Apply online at applynow.apd.myflorida.com, where you can also request crisis waiver enrollment. Paper applications, in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole, can be taken or mailed to the APD regional office for your county. For a child under 18, the legal representative signs. Questions: 1-866-APD-CARES (1-866-273-2273).

  4. Send the documents

    APD asks for identity verification, proof of Florida domicile, and diagnosis documentation. APD says the most important and most helpful record is any diagnostic evaluation completed during the developmental period, before age 18. If APD needs more, it may ask you for it.

  5. Wait for the eligibility decision

    Florida law sets the clock from the date APD receives a complete application: 15 calendar days for a crisis, "as soon as practicable" for certain youth in the child welfare system, and 60 days for everyone else. APD must tell you its decision in writing, and a family found ineligible has the right to appeal.

  6. Get your category, and your plan

    If your child is eligible, APD sends a letter with the pre-enrollment category. APD says it will help develop a support plan within 60 days of the eligibility decision and connect you to Hope Florida for help finding community resources.

  7. Ask about the CMS Plan and PPEC

    While you wait, ask your child's doctor whether a CMS Plan screening or PPEC makes sense. Sunshine Health operates the CMS Plan through September 30, 2026, and its member services number is 1-866-799-5321 (TTY 1-800-955-8770). From October 1, 2026, the plan moves to Molina Healthcare, whose CMS Plan member services number is (800) 262-0750 (TTY 711). And if you need help with a gap right now, you can apply to Teagan's Crown.

The waiting list, honestly

How pre-enrollment actually works

Federal rules let each state choose the maximum number of people a waiver will serve. In Florida, being found eligible for iBudget does not mean services start. For a client to receive waiver services, state law says there must be available funding, and the client must meet APD eligibility, Medicaid or SSI eligibility, and the level of care for an intermediate care facility.

Until funding reaches them, eligible people are assigned to one of seven pre-enrollment categories set in section 393.065(5), Florida Statutes. The law lists them in priority order:

  1. Category 1: clients deemed to be in crisis.
  2. Category 2: certain youth in the child welfare system, including those transitioning into permanency, and certain young adults ages 18 through 21 connected to extended foster care.
  3. Category 3: clients whose caregiver is expected to be unable to provide care within 12 months with no alternate caregiver, who are at substantial risk of incarceration or court commitment, whose behaviors or physical needs put them or their caregiver at risk of serious harm, or who are ready for discharge from a state mental health hospital or skilled nursing facility with no available caregiver.
  4. Category 4: clients whose caregivers are 60 or older, when a caregiver is required and no alternate is available.
  5. Category 5: clients expected to graduate from secondary school within 12 months who need support for a meaningful day activity, employment, or an accredited postsecondary program.
  6. Category 6: clients 21 or older who do not meet categories 1 through 5.
  7. Category 7: clients younger than 21 who do not meet categories 1 through 4.

Within categories 3 through 7, the law says APD prioritizes people by the date they were determined eligible. APD also uses a Pre-enrollment Prioritization Tool to decide who receives enrollment offers when it has funding. The law adds that APD's selection of who moves onto the waiver does not create a right to a hearing for people who remain in pre-enrollment.

We are not giving a wait time here, because APD does not publish one on the pages we reviewed. What those rules do tell us is this: because your place within most categories depends on your eligibility date, the clock only starts when you apply. That is the strongest reason to apply now, even if you are not sure you need waiver services yet.

While you wait

  • APD sends an annual letter asking for updated information. State law makes the family responsible for keeping contact information current, so answer it.
  • If your situation changes or you need help right away, APD asks you to contact your local regional office. It also offers an Annual Status Review form and a resources flyer for people in pre-enrollment.
  • Several categories turn on changes in a family's life, such as a caregiver's health, a caregiver turning 60, or a coming graduation. If something like that happens, tell APD.
  • Browse our resource library for grants and equipment help that do not depend on the waiver.

What to say when you call

A script you can read out loud.

This is our suggestion, written by Teagan's Crown, not an official APD script. Change it to fit your family.

Suggested call script

"Hi, my name is [your name]. I am the parent of [child's name], who is [age] and lives in [county] County. [Child] has [diagnosis]. I would like to apply for APD services and the iBudget Florida waiver."

"Can you tell me the best way to submit the application for my county, and what documents you need from me?"

"Is there anything that would make my child's situation a crisis or place them in a higher pre-enrollment category? [Describe anything urgent.]"

"After I apply, who will contact me, and how will I know my application is complete?"

"Can I get the name of the person I spoke with today?"

Documents to gather (suggested)

  • Proof of identity, such as a birth certificate or Social Security card
  • Proof of Florida domicile, such as a lease, mortgage, voter registration, or school records
  • Diagnostic evaluations, especially any done before age 18
  • School records and any testing results
  • Medical records
  • Your child's Medicaid or KidCare information, if you have it
  • Legal paperwork if someone other than a parent is the legal representative
  • A notebook for dates, names, and reference numbers

Questions families ask

Florida waiver FAQ.

Is there a waiting list for the iBudget Florida waiver?

Yes. People who are eligible are assigned to one of seven pre-enrollment categories set in section 393.065(5), Florida Statutes, and move onto the waiver as funding allows. People in crisis are given first priority. Within categories 3 through 7, people are prioritized by the date they were found eligible.

Does my child need Medicaid to get iBudget services?

Yes. Florida law requires a waiver client to meet the eligibility requirements for Florida Medicaid or the Supplemental Security Income program, along with APD eligibility and an institutional level of care. You can apply for Medicaid through MyACCESS or call the Medicaid Helpline at 1-877-254-1055.

What disabilities qualify for APD services in Florida?

APD lists intellectual disabilities (Full Scale IQ of 70 or below), severe forms of autism, spina bifida cystica or myelomeningocele, cerebral palsy, Prader-Willi syndrome, Down syndrome, Phelan-McDermid syndrome, Tatton-Brown-Rahman syndrome, and children ages 3 to 5 at high risk for a developmental disability. The applicant must be 3 or older, live in Florida, and have a disability that began before age 18.

How long does APD take to decide eligibility?

Florida law requires a decision within 15 calendar days of a complete application for a person in crisis, as soon as practicable for certain youth in the child welfare system, and within 60 days for everyone else. APD must notify you in writing.

What is changing with the CMS Health Plan in 2026?

AHCA selected Molina Healthcare to run the CMS Plan. Current members move from Sunshine Health to Molina on October 1, 2026, with no new application required. AHCA says members move automatically, can keep seeing their providers, and that existing prior authorizations and scheduled appointments will be honored.

Can my child get care at a PPEC center?

PPEC is for Medicaid-eligible children from birth through age 20 with medically complex conditions. When approved, a child can attend up to 12 hours a day and receive nursing, personal care, developmental therapies, and caregiver training. Services require prior authorization, so start by asking your child's doctor.

What if APD says my child is not eligible?

Florida law gives any applicant found ineligible the right to appeal the decision under sections 120.569 and 120.57, Florida Statutes. Read the written notice carefully, note any deadline it gives, and call APD at 1-866-APD-CARES with questions.

Sources

Where every fact on this page comes from

We only use official agency and government pages. If something here does not match what an agency tells you, the agency is right. Please let us know so we can fix it.

  1. APD, iBudget Florida, accessed September 2026
  2. APD, iBudget Florida overview, accessed September 2026
  3. APD, iBudget Florida service families, accessed September 2026
  4. APD, Apply for Services, accessed September 2026
  5. APD, Get Started, accessed September 2026
  6. APD, Applying for Services, accessed September 2026
  7. APD, Quick Guide: Applying for APD Services (PDF), accessed September 2026
  8. APD, Online Application System, accessed September 2026
  9. APD, Pre-enrollment Categories, accessed September 2026
  10. APD, Pre-enrollment, accessed September 2026
  11. APD, Regional Offices, accessed September 2026
  12. APD, Contact Us, accessed September 2026
  13. The Florida Legislature, section 393.065, Florida Statutes (2026), accessed September 2026
  14. Florida Department of Health, Children's Medical Services, accessed September 2026
  15. Florida Department of Health, CMS Health Plan, accessed September 2026
  16. Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, CMS Plan Transition, accessed September 2026
  17. Sunshine Health, CMS Health Plan (plan operator through September 30, 2026), accessed September 2026
  18. Molina Healthcare, Children's Medical Services (CMS) Plan (plan operator from October 1, 2026), accessed September 2026
  19. Florida Early Steps, accessed September 2026
  20. Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care (PPEC), accessed September 2026
  21. Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, PPEC Services Coverage Policy (February 2018, PDF), accessed September 2026
  22. Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, Medicaid Recipient Resources, accessed September 2026
  23. Medicaid.gov, Home and Community-Based Services 1915(c), accessed September 2026
  24. Medicaid.gov, Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment, accessed September 2026

Teagan's Crown is not a government agency and does not decide eligibility for any program. This page is general information, not medical or legal advice. Confirm details with APD at 1-866-APD-CARES (1-866-273-2273) or the Florida Medicaid Helpline at 1-877-254-1055.

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Also useful: Medicaid waiver finder, what a year of care costs, and the full resource library.

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