How to renew your Mississippi Medicaid coverage

Last verified: June 2026

Renewal notices come from Mississippi Medicaid

Always respond to official renewal notices from Mississippi Medicaid. Missing a renewal deadline is the most common reason people lose Medicaid coverage — even when they're still eligible.

Mississippi Medicaid renews annually — keep your address current with DOM to receive renewal notices

Mississippi Medicaid eligibility is reviewed every 12 months. DOM sends renewal notices by mail to the address on file. If your address is wrong or you miss the notice, coverage can be terminated even if you still qualify. Renew through the MESA member portal at portal.ms-medicaid-mesa.com, by calling 1-800-421-2408, or by visiting your local DOM regional office. Keeping your contact information current with DOM year-round is the single most effective step to prevent coverage loss.

How Mississippi Medicaid renewal works

DOM first attempts ex parte renewal — using data from SSA, the IRS, and state agencies to confirm you still qualify without requiring you to submit paperwork. If ex parte renewal succeeds, your coverage renews automatically and you receive a confirmation notice. No action required.

When DOM cannot confirm eligibility through data alone, it sends a renewal notice asking you to verify your current income, household, and residency. Under 42 CFR 435.916, you have at least 30 days to respond. If you do not respond, coverage terminates. Per KFF analysis of state renewal data, procedural terminations — where coverage ends due to administrative reasons rather than ineligibility — accounted for the majority of disenrollments during the 2023–2024 post-pandemic unwinding period across states. Mississippi was no exception.

Update your address and phone. DOM sends renewal notices by mail. An outdated address means you never see the packet. Update through MESA or by calling 1-800-421-2408.
Open all mail from DOM. Renewal packets may look like generic government correspondence. Open them.
Review and complete the renewal form. Confirm that household members, income, and residency information are still accurate.
Provide documentation if requested. Common requests: recent pay stubs, residency documentation, or verification of a household change.
Submit by the deadline on the notice. Use MESA, call 1-800-421-2408, or visit a regional office. Keep a copy of what you submitted.
Watch for a coverage decision. If coverage is renewed, you receive a confirmation. If terminated, you receive a notice with appeal rights.

Renewal checklist

Verify your current mailing address with DOM — this is the most important step
Set up a MESA portal account to receive electronic notifications in addition to mail
Have income documentation ready: recent pay stubs or tax return for self-employment
Report any household changes (birth, death, marriage, divorce, members moving in/out) to DOM within 10 days — do not wait for renewal
If you received a notice but your circumstances have not changed, complete the renewal form and submit it anyway — silence leads to termination
If your income dropped significantly during the year, report it to potentially increase your benefits or qualify for retroactive coverage
If you lost coverage in the past 90 days and believe you still qualify, contact DOM about reinstatement

What to do if coverage is terminated

You have the right to a fair hearing if Mississippi Medicaid terminates or reduces your coverage. Request a hearing within 90 days of the termination notice. If you request a hearing within 10 days of the notice and coverage is still active, you may be entitled to continue receiving services while the appeal is pending (known as "aid paid pending").

Mississippi Center for Justice provides free legal assistance for Medicaid appeals: mscenterforjustice.org or (601) 352-2269. You can also request help at any DOM regional office or call 1-800-421-2408 to be connected with the appeals process.

Post-pandemic coverage losses: the 2023–2024 unwinding

During the COVID-19 public health emergency (March 2020 through March 2023), federal law prohibited states from removing people from Medicaid. When that protection ended, states conducted a mass redetermination of all enrolled members — known as the "unwinding." Millions of people lost coverage nationally between April 2023 and late 2024, many due to administrative reasons like outdated addresses rather than actual ineligibility. If you lost Mississippi Medicaid during that period without receiving a renewal notice, you may still be eligible. Contact Mississippi Medicaid to reapply.

How to complete your renewal

When Mississippi Medicaid sends a renewal notice, here's what to do:

1

Read the notice carefully

Identify exactly what the agency is asking for and the deadline to respond. Renewal packets may ask you to confirm your current income, household size, or address.
2

Update your information

If anything has changed — income, address, phone number, household members — report it now. Outdated contact information is the leading cause of missed renewal notices.
3

Submit the renewal online, by phone, or by mail

Mississippi Medicaid's online portal is typically the fastest way to complete a renewal. You may also call the enrollment line or mail in your completed packet.
4

Confirm your coverage continued

After submitting, confirm you receive a notice that coverage was renewed. If you don't hear back within a few weeks, call Mississippi Medicaid to verify your status.

If your renewal is denied

A denial must state the reason in writing and explain your right to appeal. You have 90 days from the date of the notice to request a fair hearing. File the appeal quickly — if you appeal before your coverage ends, you may be able to continue coverage during the appeal period, though this depends on timing and the reason for denial.

Common renewal denials include: income that increased above the threshold, failure to respond to the renewal packet, a change in household size that affects eligibility, or immigration status questions. Some of these can be addressed by reapplying with updated information rather than appealing.

Contact Mississippi Medicaid within the 90-day window. A reconsideration or new application filed promptly can often restore coverage retroactively to the date it was lost.

Keeping your account information up to date

The most effective way to avoid renewal problems is to report changes promptly. Federal rules require Medicaid enrollees to report changes that may affect eligibility within a specified period — typically 10 to 30 days depending on the state.

Changes to report: new job or income change, move to a new address, change in household size (new baby, someone moves in or out), gaining or losing other health coverage. Contact Mississippi Medicaid or update your information through the online portal at https://medicaid.ms.gov.