Mississippi Medicaid
Last verified: June 2026
Informational resource — not affiliated with Mississippi
Mississippi has not expanded Medicaid — most working-age adults without disabilities do not qualify
What is Mississippi Medicaid?
Mississippi Medicaid is administered by the Mississippi Division of Medicaid (DOM). DOM operates under the Mississippi Department of Human Services and maintains 30 regional offices across the state in addition to its Jackson central office. As of 2025, approximately 800,000 Mississippians are enrolled — around 27% of the state's population, a high share despite the program's restricted eligibility, reflecting the state's low median income and high rates of childhood and senior poverty.
Mississippi operates a mixed delivery system. The MississippiCAN program (Mississippi Coordinated Access Network) provides managed care for certain populations including children and families. Other populations, particularly seniors and adults with disabilities, may receive services through fee-for-service Medicaid. Per medicaid.ms.gov, the MESA portal serves both members and providers for claims, eligibility verification, and provider searches.
Mississippi also maintains a specific program called Mississippi ACCESS to Maternal Assistance (MAMA) for maternal health outreach. Separate programs exist for children in the Katie Beckett track and for working disabled adults. The Division of Medicaid's stated mission is to "responsibly provide access to quality health coverage for vulnerable Mississippians."
Who qualifies for Mississippi Medicaid?
Per the Mississippi Division of Medicaid eligibility page (updated March 2026), individuals must fit into a covered group AND meet income requirements AND be a Mississippi resident with citizenship or qualifying immigration status. Mississippi does not offer the ACA expansion category. There is no general adult Medicaid coverage for people who are not children, pregnant women, parents with dependent children, or individuals with qualifying disabilities or age.
Infants and children (birth to age 18)
Income limits vary by age — infants birth to age 1 qualify at 194% FPL; children age 1–6 at 143% FPL; children age 6–19 at 133% FPL. See the income limits page for exact monthly figures per the March 2026 DOM table.
Pregnant women
Qualify at up to 194% FPL. Benefits extend 12 months postpartum. Any child born to a Medicaid-eligible mother automatically receives Medicaid until age 1. Pregnant minors under 19 qualify regardless of family income.
Parents and caretaker relatives with dependent children
Must have children under 18 living in the home. The income limit is extremely low — the March 2026 DOM table shows $600/month for a family of 4. This is one of the most restrictive parent income limits in any state.
Aged, blind, and disabled (SSI recipients)
Individuals 65 or older, blind, or disabled who receive SSI qualify automatically. Non-SSI disabled individuals may qualify through separate income and functional assessment criteria.
Source: Mississippi Division of Medicaid, "Who Qualifies for Coverage," updated March 2026. Full covered group descriptions at medicaid.ms.gov.
The coverage gap — who falls through
Because Mississippi has not expanded Medicaid, a large number of low-income adults fall into what researchers call the "coverage gap" — they earn too much for Mississippi's restricted Medicaid but too little to qualify for subsidized ACA marketplace plans (which start at 100% FPL). The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that over 200,000 Mississippians have fallen in this gap over the years since the ACA was implemented.
Adults in the coverage gap may be able to access care through federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) on a sliding-scale fee basis. Use the HRSA Health Center Finder at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov to find a community health center in Mississippi. Adults in rural areas of the state — which is most of the state — often rely on these centers as their primary source of care.
Mississippi Medicaid topics
How to apply
Income limits
Dental coverage
Seniors and long-term care
Medicaid renewal
CHIP
What does Mississippi Medicaid cover?
Medicaid covers a broad range of health services. Federal law mandates certain benefits — inpatient and outpatient hospital care, physician services, lab work, X-rays, and nursing facility services, among others. States add optional services on top of those. Dental, vision, and long-term home care coverage vary by state.
The national benefits overview lists required and commonly optional services. Check the Mississippi Medicaid website for the current state-specific benefit package.
How to apply
Most people can apply online through Mississippi's Medicaid portal, by phone, or in person at a local eligibility office. The how to apply page walks through each method, what documents you'll need, and what to expect during the review period.
Under 42 CFR 435.912, states must process most standard Medicaid applications within 45 days (90 days for disability-based applications). Mississippi must follow that federal timeline.