Missouri Medicaid

Last verified: June 2026

What is MO HealthNet?

MO HealthNet is Missouri's Medicaid program. The MO HealthNet Division (MHD), a division of the Missouri Department of Social Services, administers it. Missouri covers approximately 1.1 million residents through MO HealthNet. Coverage is delivered through fee-for-service for some populations and through managed care health plans for others.

Missouri expanded Medicaid under the ACA — but later than most states, and through an unusual legal path. Missouri voters passed Amendment 2 in August 2020, adding Medicaid expansion directly to the state constitution. The state legislature initially refused to fund expansion, prompting litigation. Missouri's Supreme Court ruled in favor of expansion in October 2021. Enrollment of the newly eligible expansion population began October 1, 2021.

Because expansion implementation was delayed and contested, Missouri entered the 2023–2024 unwinding period (when states resumed normal eligibility reviews after the COVID-19 continuous enrollment requirement ended) with a complicated renewal backlog. MO HealthNet experienced one of the higher disenrollment rates nationally during unwinding.

MO HealthNet coverage programs

Who administers MO HealthNet care?

MO HealthNet uses managed care for most members. The three active managed care organizations (MCOs) serving Missouri Medicaid members as of 2025 are Home State Health, Healthy Blue (formerly Anthem), and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan. MCO availability varies by region. Members who prefer not to use managed care may opt out through the MO HealthNet Portal at mymohealthportal.com, though fee-for-service coverage has a narrower network in many areas.

The MC+ for Seniors program provides managed long-term services and supports for Missouri Medicaid members who are 65 or older and living in the community. PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) is also available in some Missouri counties, administered jointly by MO HealthNet and Medicare.

Who qualifies for MO HealthNet?

Per the MO HealthNet Division's eligibility documentation, coverage is available to Missourians in the following general categories:

• Adults ages 19–64 at or below 138% FPL (expansion group since October 2021)
• Children from birth through age 18 at or below 300% FPL (MO HealthNet for Kids / Show Me Healthy Kids)
• Pregnant women up to 196% FPL for full MO HealthNet coverage
• Parents and caretaker relatives of qualifying children (income limits vary)
• Seniors 65 and older who meet financial eligibility thresholds
• Individuals who are blind or have qualifying disabilities (SSI recipients are automatically eligible)
• Women under 65 diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer through Missouri's BCCT program

Source: MO HealthNet Division eligibility documentation, mydss.mo.gov. Income figures are MAGI-based for most groups. Non-MAGI groups (elderly, blind, disabled) use separate rules with asset tests. Verify current limits at mydss.mo.gov or by calling 855-373-4636.

Missouri Medicaid topics

What does MO HealthNet (Missouri 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 MO HealthNet (Missouri Medicaid) website for the current state-specific benefit package.

How to apply

Most people can apply online through Missouri'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). Missouri must follow that federal timeline.