Tulsa Senior AdvisorWhat is the ADvantage waiver?
The ADvantage waiver is SoonerCare's home and community-based services program for adults 65 and older and adults 21 and older with physical disabilities who meet nursing facility level of care but choose to live at home or in assisted living.
Its services include:
- Case management
- Personal care
- Skilled nursing
- Home-delivered meals
- Specialized medical equipment and supplies
- Prescription medications
- Home modifications
- Assisted living services
- Adult day health
- Remote supports and assistive technology
Who qualifies for ADvantage in 2026?
An applicant must meet nursing facility level of care on the UCAT III assessment completed by an Oklahoma Human Services nurse, and must meet SoonerCare's financial limits: in 2026, income up to $2,982 a month and countable assets up to $2,000.
The home, household goods and one vehicle generally do not count toward the asset limit. Transfers for less than fair value in the 60 months before applying can cause a penalty period. A dementia diagnosis alone does not establish nursing facility level of care; the assessment looks at what help the person actually needs.
Does ADvantage pay for assisted living in Tulsa?
ADvantage pays for assisted living services, such as personal care, housekeeping, laundry and intermittent nursing, in assisted living centers that participate in the program, but it never pays room and board.
That means the resident's own income must cover rent and meals. Only some Tulsa-area centers take ADvantage, and OSDH's roster marks just one center in the six counties with the ADvantage-certified sub-type, so ask every center directly whether it has open ADvantage slots and what it charges for room and board.
Is there a waiting list for ADvantage?
There can be: ADvantage is not an entitlement, enrollment slots are limited, and when slots are full a waiting list forms in order of application date.
Because the date of application sets your place, apply as soon as a need is likely rather than waiting for a crisis.
How do I apply for ADvantage from the Tulsa area?
Apply online through Oklahoma Human Services, or call the Medicaid Services Unit at 1-800-435-4711 to apply by phone; choose home care and case management providers in your county first, because the assessment call will ask for them.
The INCOG Area Agency on Aging (918-584-7526) can help Tulsa, Creek and Osage county residents with the process; Rogers County residents can call Grand Gateway at (918) 783-5793, and Wagoner and Okmulgee county residents EODD at (918) 682-7891.
At a glance
| ADvantage does | ADvantage does not | |
|---|---|---|
| At home | Pay personal care, nursing, meals, equipment | Guarantee immediate enrollment |
| Assisted living | Pay services in participating centers | Pay room and board |
| Eligibility | Use a functional and financial test | Accept a diagnosis alone |
Sources include the Oklahoma Administrative Code (chapters 310:663, 310:680, 310:673, 310:675 and 310:605), OSDH, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, Oklahoma Human Services, the Oklahoma Attorney General, CareScout, CMS and the VA, as cited above; see our editorial standards.
