Last reviewed: May 2026

Take a breath.

You just learned your mom (or dad) can't live alone anymore. Your head is spinning. You don't know where to start.

Here's the good news: Missouri has a program that can help pay for the care your parent needs. It's called MO HealthNet. You don't have to figure all of this out today.

This page walks you through what to know, in plain words.

What is MO HealthNet?

MO HealthNet is the name for Missouri Medicaid. It's the state and federal program that helps pay for care for people who can't afford it on their own.

For seniors who need help every day — bathing, dressing, meals, or memory care — MO HealthNet has a special program called the Aged & Disabled Waiver. People also call it the ADW. It means the same thing.

There's also a second program many families don't know about: the Structured Family Caregiving Waiver. It can pay a family member — even a spouse — to care for a parent with Alzheimer's or dementia at home. Worth asking about.

What does it pay for?

The Aged & Disabled Waiver helps pay for care so your parent can stay out of a nursing home as long as possible. It can cover:

  • A caregiver who comes to the house
  • Help with personal care (bathing, dressing, eating)
  • Adult day care
  • Home-delivered meals
  • A medical alert button for emergencies
  • Respite care so you can rest

If your parent needs full nursing home care, regular MO HealthNet can pay for that too.

One important thing: The waiver does not pay for rent or food at an assisted living place. It pays for the care part, not the living part.

Who qualifies?

Three things have to be true.

1. Age and need. Your parent must be 63 or older and need the kind of care a nursing home gives. A nurse will visit and ask questions to decide this.

2. Income. In 2026, a single person can have up to $1,737 a month coming in. That includes Social Security, pensions, everything. Married couples are looked at one at a time, with each spouse held to the same number. Missouri's income cap is lower than you might expect — don't assume you're over before you check with someone.

3. Savings. A single person can have up to $6,068.80 in the bank, in stocks, or in other savings. If your parent is married and only one is applying, the healthy spouse at home can keep about half the couple's combined savings — up to $162,660. The house your parent lives in does not count.

How do you apply?

You do two things, and you do them together.

Step 1: Apply for MO HealthNet. Go online to mydss.mo.gov or call 1-855-373-4636. The online application is faster and won't let you accidentally skip a page.

Step 2: Send in the extra senior form. There's a second form just for seniors, called the IM-1ABDS (the "Aged, Blind, and Disabled Supplement"). Many families miss this and the application stalls. You can download it from mydss.mo.gov. Both forms have to be filed for the senior application to move forward.

What papers do you need?

Start gathering these now. It saves weeks later.

  • Social Security card
  • Medicare card
  • Birth certificate or photo ID
  • Proof of all income (Social Security letter, pension statements)
  • Bank statements going back 60 months — yes, five years
  • Life insurance policies
  • The deed to the house, if they own one
  • Any pre-paid funeral or burial papers

How long does it take?

Plan on two to four months. Sometimes longer. The five-year bank review takes time. Don't be surprised if you have to send the same paper twice.

Things that surprise families

  • The income cap is low. A parent with average Social Security plus a small pension can land just over the limit. Missouri has a legal way to handle this with a special trust, but you need a Missouri elder law attorney to set it up right.
  • You can sometimes get paid to caregive. The Structured Family Caregiving Waiver pays family members — including spouses — to care for a parent with dementia at home. Ask about it by name.
  • The 5-year lookback. Missouri reviews every dollar your parent moved or gave away in the last 60 months. Gifts to grandkids, or selling the house cheap to family, can cause a denial or long delay.
  • Don't spend down without a plan. Talk to a Missouri elder law attorney before moving any money. One wrong move can cost months of help.
  • Assisted living rent isn't covered. The waiver pays for care services, not the apartment.

You don't have to do this alone

Call 1-855-373-4636 or your local Area Agency on Aging. They walk Missouri families through this every day. It's free.

Then take a breath. You're already doing the hard part — showing up.

Unfamiliar with a term? Visit our Medicaid Glossary for plain-English definitions written for Kansas City families.

Ready to Get Organized?

Now that you understand MO HealthNet, this workbook walks you through every document, every deadline, and every step — so nothing falls through the cracks.

Get the Missouri Medicaid Document Organizer — $27

If your parent lives in Kansas, the program is called KanCare and the rules are different. See our Kansas KanCare guide →