How to Apply for Florida Medicaid CDC+ — A Family's Complete Guide

Your mom needs supervision during the day. You work full-time and you can't stand the guilt of leaving her alone anymore. You've heard Florida Medicaid might pay for an adult day care center — but between English-only forms, calls that never get returned, and acronyms nobody explains, you feel like you're navigating blind. Take a breath. In this guide we'll walk you through, plainly and step by step, what Medicaid CDC+ is, who qualifies, what documents you need, and how our bilingual team helps you with every piece of paperwork — free of charge, no commitment.

What is Medicaid CDC+?

CDC+ stands for Consumer-Directed Care Plus. It's a Florida program, administered by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) and the Department of Elder Affairs, that gives families the freedom to choose and direct care services for their loved one — including adult day care at a center like Xclusive Senior Care.

Unlike traditional Medicaid, CDC+ does not force you to accept a single assigned agency. You decide:

Which day care center your loved one attends.
Which days and hours.
What additional services to add (transportation, meals, medical supervision).
Whether to pay a family member as a caregiver (in certain cases).

For Hispanic families in Hialeah, this means your loved one can be at a center where Spanish is spoken, rice and beans are on the menu, and salsa plays on Fridays — without a bureaucrat in Tallahassee choosing for you.

Who qualifies for Florida Medicaid CDC+?

For your loved one to qualify, they generally need to meet three main criteria:

1. Age or disability

60 years or older, or
An adult with a disability documented by the Social Security Administration.

2. Functional need (Level of Care)

Florida requires your loved one to pass an evaluation called the CARES Assessment (Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long-Term Care Services). A specialist from the Department of Elder Affairs visits the home to evaluate whether your loved one needs help with:

Bathing, dressing, eating.
Taking medications.
Moving around the house.
Staying alone safely.

If the assessor determines your loved one needs "Nursing Home Level of Care" but the family prefers to keep them at home with daytime support, they qualify for CDC+.

3. Financial resources

Florida Medicaid has income and asset limits. Numbers change each year — for 2026, the approximate limits are:

Monthly income: below $2,901 for a single individual (based on federal SSI/Medicaid caps updated by Florida AHCA).
Assets (savings, CDs, second property): less than $2,000 for a single applicant. The primary home, one car, and personal belongings do not count.

If your loved one exceeds the limits, don't give up — there are legal strategies like the Qualified Income Trust ("Miller Trust") that many families use to qualify. Talk to a local elder law attorney before ruling it out.

Documents you'll need

Gather these papers before you start the application. Having everything ready saves weeks of delays.

Identity and residency:

Birth certificate or passport of your loved one.
Social Security card.
Proof of citizenship or legal permanent residency (green card).
Florida driver's license or state ID.
Recent utility bill or lease in your loved one's name (current address).

Health:

Medicare card (if they have one).
Updated medication list and diagnoses.
Recent medical report or note from primary doctor.

Financial:

Last 3 months of bank statements.
Social Security benefits letter (SSA-1099).
Pension, annuity, or any other monthly income.
Life insurance policies with cash value.

How to apply, step by step

Step 1: Create an ACCESS Florida account

Go to myflfamilies.com/access and create your account. It's the official portal where every Florida Medicaid application is processed.

Step 2: Fill out the Medicaid application

Select "Medicaid for the Aged or Disabled." The system has a Spanish version, but heads up — some technical screens stay in English. If you get lost, call us at (305) 820-0805 and a bilingual specialist will fill the application out with you.

Step 3: Upload your documents

Scan or take clear photos of each document and upload them to ACCESS Florida. If you upload a blurry photo, you'll be rejected — and you'll wait another 4-6 weeks.

Step 4: Wait for the CARES assessment

The Department of Elder Affairs will schedule an in-home visit (typically within 2-6 weeks). A nurse or social worker comes, talks with your loved one, observes how they move and respond, and determines the level of care.

Golden tip: don't sugarcoat the situation. If your mom forgets to turn off the stove, say so. If she falls every couple of weeks, say so. The assessor is there to help — but can only approve what she sees and what you tell her.

Step 5: Get the decision

Florida has up to 45 days to respond. If approved, you'll receive a letter stating the "plan of care" (how many hours per week, which services are covered). From there, you choose the provider — and that's where we come in.

Step 6: Enroll with Xclusive Senior Care

Once approved, we help you fill out the provider selection form so your loved one can start at the center. Often as soon as a week later.

Common reasons applications get rejected

After years helping families in Hialeah, here are the most frequent stumbles we see:

Incomplete or unreadable documents. A blurry bank statement photo can pause everything.
Income or assets misreported. Underestimating or overestimating — both bounce the application.
Missing response deadlines. Florida gives tight windows. Miss one, the application closes.
Skipped CARES assessment. If your loved one wasn't home on the appointment day, you wait another round.
Outdated address. If your loved one recently moved, update Social Security before applying.
"Forgotten" bank accounts. Florida checks every account — if there's an old one you didn't list, you get flagged for fraud.

How Xclusive Senior Care helps — free

We have a team of bilingual Medicaid specialists who have helped hundreds of families across Hialeah, Hialeah Gardens, Westland, Country Club, and Palm Springs North navigate this process. No cost, no obligation.

Here's what we do with you:

Pre-screen whether your loved one likely qualifies (15-minute phone consult).
Hand you a checklist of the exact documents needed.
Fill out the ACCESS Florida application together (in person or over the phone).
Walk you through what to expect at the CARES assessment.
Follow up with the office until you get a response.
Once approved, enroll your loved one at our nearest location.

Why it's free: When your loved one comes to our center, Medicaid pays us directly. We don't charge you for paperwork help — it's our commitment to the community.

Frequently asked questions

1. How long does the whole process take? Between 6 and 12 weeks, depending on how quickly the CARES assessment is completed and how many document round-trips happen.

2. My mom has Medicare. Can she also have Medicaid? Yes. That's called "dual eligible," and it's very common for older adults. Medicare covers medical care; Medicaid CDC+ covers day care and other support services.

3. My dad is not a U.S. citizen. Can he apply? If he has held a green card for more than 5 years, generally yes. There are exceptions for refugees and asylees. Call us to evaluate your case.

4. What if my loved one lives with me? Does my income count? No. For adult Medicaid CDC+, only your loved one's income and assets count — not yours.

5. Can Medicaid pay for transportation to the center? Yes. Once approved for CDC+, transportation to the day care is covered. At Xclusive, we offer door-to-door transport free within 15 miles regardless of insurance.

6. What if my loved one owns a small rental property? That counts as a countable asset. There are legal strategies (selling, transferring to a special trust) — talk to an elder law attorney before applying.

7. What if I get rejected? Can I appeal? Yes. You have 90 days to appeal. Most rejections are won on appeal if the documents were correct.

8. Do I need a lawyer? Not to apply — our team can guide you. But if your financial situation is complex (multiple properties, trusts, recent divorce), we recommend consulting an elder law attorney.

9. Can I apply before my loved one turns 60? Yes, if they have a disability documented by the Social Security Administration.

10. How do I know if Xclusive Senior Care accepts my loved one's CDC+? We are approved Medicaid CDC+ providers in the state of Florida. Once your loved one is approved, we enroll them directly. Call (305) 820-0805 and we'll walk you through it in under 5 minutes.

Ready for the next step?

At Xclusive Senior Care we care for your loved one during the day with warmth, home-cooked meals, free transportation, and an on-site nurse — all in Spanish or English. 100% free trial day, no commitment.

📞 Call us: (305) 820-0805 🏠 Two locations in Hialeah Gardens and Hialeah 📅 Book your free day →