In the same week, three different people told you three different things. Your pediatrician said, “Apply for Katie Beckett.” Another parent at therapy pickup said, “Get on the NOW list now, it takes forever.” And your private insurance? It covers some ABA, but the gaps are big enough to drive a truck through.
Maybe you’re comparing the Katie Beckett waiver vs. NOW and COMP waivers right now. If so, here’s the question most parents really want answered: which one helps pay for in-home ABA, and what does the other add? This guide breaks it down in plain language, with a side-by-side table and three example scenarios.
How Does Georgia Medicaid Pay for In-Home ABA?
Let’s start here, because it clears up a lot of confusion. In Georgia, ABA for children and youth under 21 is a Medicaid benefit. If your child has Georgia Medicaid and a documented autism diagnosis, medically necessary ABA can be covered with prior authorization.
If your child already has private insurance, Medicaid can work alongside it. Your private plan usually pays first, and Medicaid may help with what’s left, depending on the service. Ask your provider how they bill when a child has both.
So the real questions become: how does your child get Medicaid in the first place? And beyond ABA, what other support does your family need? That’s where Katie Beckett and NOW/COMP come in. They’re two different flight routes, heading to different places. For a full overview of how coverage works, see the insurance and Medicaid we accept.
What Is the Katie Beckett Waiver, and What Does It Cover?
The Katie Beckett program is sometimes called TEFRA or the Deeming Waiver. It helps certain children with disabilities qualify for Georgia Medicaid, even when their parents earn too much for regular Medicaid. That’s the big deal. Parent income isn’t counted.
To qualify, according to the Katie Beckett program fact sheet (PDF), a child must:
- Be 18 years old or younger and live at home
- Meet federal criteria for disability
- Need the level of care usually provided in a hospital, nursing facility or intermediate care facility
- Be able to receive care at home for no more than it would cost in an institution
Once approved, your child receives full Georgia Medicaid. That means Medicaid-covered services, including ABA when it’s medically necessary, become available. For many families with private insurance, Katie Beckett also acts as secondary coverage that helps fill the gaps.
Two recent changes are worth knowing. Level-of-care approvals are now authorized for at least two years, though financial eligibility is still reviewed every year. And as of April 2026, Georgia launched an online portal where families can upload documents and track their application. For a deeper comparison of both programs, read our full Katie Beckett vs. NOW/COMP comparison.
What Are the NOW and COMP Waivers, and What Do They Cover?
NOW and COMP are Georgia Medicaid waivers for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, including related conditions like autism. They’re run day to day by the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), with oversight from the Department of Community Health.
Here’s how they differ. NOW, the New Options Waiver, is for people with less intensive needs who want to stay in their homes or live more independently. COMP, the Comprehensive Supports Waiver, is for people with more intensive needs. It can include residential and high-level in-home support.
These waivers fund a long list of home and community services. Georgia.gov’s overview of NOW and COMP waiver services includes respite care, behavioral support services and community access. It also lists therapies, environmental modifications and supported employment, among others. More than 12,000 Georgians receive services through these programs.
Notice what that means. NOW and COMP aren’t mainly an ABA funding source. They fund the bigger picture of support around a person with a disability, often across many years.
Katie Beckett vs. NOW and COMP: Side-by-Side
| Question | Katie Beckett | NOW and COMP |
| Who it’s for | Children with disabilities who need an institutional level of care | People with intellectual or developmental disabilities, including autism as a related condition |
| Age | 18 and under | Children and adults |
| Parent income counted? | No | Person must be Medicaid eligible |
| Main purpose | Gives the child Georgia Medicaid | Funds home and community supports |
| How ABA fits | Medicaid covers medically necessary ABA under 21 | Not the main route to ABA; covers other supports |
| Managed by | Department of Community Health | DBHDD, with DCH oversight |
| Wait | Processing time varies | Planning lists, prioritized by need |
Why Is There a Wait for NOW and COMP?
NOW and COMP have more people who qualify than funded slots available. DBHDD keeps separate planning lists for each waiver. Instead of first come, first served, people most in need are prioritized. DBHDD explains how the planning list is prioritized, including reviews of health and safety and the strength of a person’s caregiver support.
That’s why many families apply early, even if they don’t need waiver services right away. Advocacy on the planning list is ongoing, too. The GA Council on Developmental Disabilities works on policy issues that affect Georgians with developmental disabilities and their families.
What Paperwork Helps With Both Applications?
The good news is that a lot of the same documents support both programs. Getting organized once saves you time on the second application.
Start a folder, either paper or digital, with your child’s diagnostic evaluation and any recent medical records. Add therapy notes, progress reports and your child’s IEP or school reports. These help show how your child functions day to day and what level of support they need.
Keep a simple log, too. Note the dates you applied, who you spoke with and what they asked for. If a caseworker calls with a question six weeks later, you’ll be glad you wrote it down.
Make copies of everything before you send it. It sounds obvious, but it’s the step most parents wish they’d taken after a document goes missing.
What Happens When Your Child Gets Older?
Age changes the picture, so it helps to think ahead. Katie Beckett covers children 18 and under. After that, eligibility for adult programs looks at the young adult’s own situation, not the household’s.
Medicaid coverage for ABA in Georgia applies to members under 21. As your child approaches those milestones, the supports they need may shift from therapy toward daily living, work and community life.
That’s one reason families often get on a NOW or COMP planning list long before they need waiver services. When adulthood arrives, the groundwork is already in place.
Which Pathway Fits Your Family? Three Example Scenarios
These are made-up examples, not real families. They’re meant to show how the programs can fit different situations.
Example A: A toddler who needs ABA now. A two-year-old has a new autism diagnosis. Dad’s employer plan covers some ABA but has high costs. Katie Beckett is usually the first move here, because it can open Medicaid coverage for ABA without counting the family’s income.
Example B: A school-age child and a worn-out family. An eight-year-old already gets ABA through Katie Beckett, but bedtimes are rough and both parents work long hours. This family might keep Katie Beckett and also apply for NOW, since respite and other supports could help the whole household.
Example C: A teen getting closer to 18. A 16-year-old is thinking about life after high school. Katie Beckett ends after age 18, so NOW or COMP may matter more for long-term support planning, like community access and supported employment.
Ready to start the Katie Beckett side? Here’s our step-by-step Katie Beckett application guide.
Need Help Sorting It Out?
This isn’t legal or benefits advice, and every family’s situation is different. Your Katie Beckett caseworker and DBHDD can confirm what applies to your child. But you don’t have to sort through all of it alone.
Bring your questions to a free consultation. We’ll walk through what your child’s coverage looks like today, what paperwork may be missing, and which questions to take back to your caseworker.
Skyward Spectrum accepts Georgia Medicaid and helps families understand Katie Beckett paperwork as part of getting started with in-home ABA. Talk with our team and we’ll help you figure out your next step.
FAQ: Katie Beckett, NOW and COMP
Can my child have Katie Beckett and NOW or COMP at the same time?
Families can apply for both. Ask DBHDD and your Katie Beckett caseworker how the programs work together for your child.
Does Katie Beckett pay for ABA therapy?
Katie Beckett gives eligible children Georgia Medicaid, which covers medically necessary ABA for members under 21 with prior authorization.
Is there a waitlist for Katie Beckett?
Katie Beckett doesn’t use a planning list like NOW and COMP do. Processing times still vary, so apply as early as you can.
