Mississippi Medicaid Eligibility – Who Qualifies for Coverage

Mississippi Medicaid provides eligible beneficiaries full coverage, reduced coverage, or limited benefits. The medical plans cater to specific groups ranging from infants, adults, and pregnant women, to persons with disabilities. Medicaid eligibility is based on factors such as residency, citizenship, and income limits apply.

This article will discuss eligible groups for coverage and other eligibility criteria.

Eligible Groups Medicaid in Mississippi

The Medicaid program in Mississippi caters to different groups of people, as follows:

Infants and Children

Medicaid Mississippi caters to children under 19 years from low-income families. Household income, tax filing status, and the relationship between household members are considered when assessing eligibility.

Mississippi also has a Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) that provides low and no-cost health coverage to children under the age of 19 years who do not qualify for Medicaid due to high income but cannot afford private insurance.

Parents or Caretakers of Minors

Mississippi extends full coverage to low income parents and caretakers. To qualify, the parents or caretakers must live in the same home as children aged 18 years and below who are deprived of support from both or one parent or if the parents or caretakers are unemployed. For caretakers to be eligible, they must have a close relationship with the children and have primary responsibility for them.

Pregnant Women

The Mississippi Medicaid plan also includes a program for pregnant women. It offers prenatal coverage for medical care throughout pregnancy up to 60 days postpartum. Eligible women automatically qualify for a one-year family planning waiver.

Also, any child born to a Medicaid eligible mother automatically qualifies for one year of Medicaid benefits for infants and children. Note that pregnant minors below 19 years can qualify for Medicaid for pregnant women. Family income limits do not apply.

Disabled Children Living at Home

Mississippi Medicaid offers full coverage to eligible disabled children living at home who would need an institutional level of care that would typically be provided in a hospital or long-term care facility.

Working Disabled

To be covered, the working disabled individual must be working for at least 40 hours per month. The income limit for Medicaid coverage is 250% of the federal poverty level. However, if the income exceeds 150%, the disabled person should pay a monthly premium for Medicaid coverage.

Aged, Blind, and Disabled (ABD)

Mississippi Medicaid offers full coverage to this category depending on whether they receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or participate in the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver program.

Seniors aged 65 years and older, persons with disability, and the blind on SSI are automatically eligible for Medicaid. However, eligibility must be certified by the Social Security Administration. Income limits apply and are stipulated by the Social Security Administration annually.

On the other hand, for seniors, disabled individuals, or the blind residing in a nursing facility or participating in an HCBS waiver program to qualify for Medicaid, their income must not exceed 300% of the SSI federal benefit rate.

Individuals in Need of Cong-term care

The Mississippi Medicaid program also covers long term care for eligible individuals. Long term care involves help with day-to-day activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating as a result of incapacitation due to health issues.

Medically Needy Individuals

 Individuals in dire need of Medical aid may be eligible even if their income exceeds the stipulated threshold.

Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries

Mississippi Medicaid offers reduced coverage to qualified Medicare beneficiaries. For applicants to qualify, they must have at least Medicare Part A and income should not exceed 100% of the federal poverty level. Medicare beneficiaries of all ages can apply.

Other Eligibility Criteria

Citizenship and Residency

To be eligible for Mississippi Medicaid, you must be a US citizen or a qualified non-citizen such as a green cardholder, asylees, refuges, and others with lawful immigration status. You must also reside in Mississippi and intend to continue living there.

However, Mississippi Medicaid offers emergency services for non-qualified residents and undocumented immigrants. Coverage is solely on the date of service of the emergency. The scope of coverage is as per the applicable covered group.

Income Limit

The income limit for Mississippi Medicaid depends on factors such as household size, medical expenses, and eligibility group. According to the IRS rules for Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI), it is determined based on the federal poverty level and monthly income.

On average, the FPL for Medicaid in Mississippi is 138% as of 2022. However, the exact income limit varies across the different eligible groups depending on the household size.

Asset Limit

Most Medicaid programs in Mississippi do not have asset limit eligibility except for long term care services for nursing homes or community based services. The countable assets limit is $2000 for single applicants and $3000 for couples. Assets such as primary care, home residence, and personal belongings do not count towards the asset limit.

How to Apply for Medicaid in Mississippi

There are different ways of applying for Medicaid in Mississippi. You can complete the application online on the Mississippi Division of Medicaid website. Or, you could download the application form on the website, complete it, and mail it alongside the relevant documentation to your local Mississippi Medicaid agency offices.

Another option is to apply in person at a local department of Human Services office or community health center. Check the nearest office near you on the Mississippi Division of Medicaid website.

If you need assistance with the application process, call the Mississippi Division of Medicaid toll number at 1-800-421-2408. A representative will answer your questions, address your concerns, and guide you through the application process.

You must provide documentation to prove your identity, citizenship, residency, and income when applying. The required documentation includes pay stubs, tax returns, government identification, social security number, etc.

Carefully adhere to the application instructions to increase the chances of your application being approved fast. Provide all the necessary documentation and the required details on the application form.

Once you have submitted the application, stay in touch with the Medicaid officers at your local agency to follow up on the status of your application. If need be, provide additional information as soon as possible to expedite the approval process and reduce the chances of your application being denied.

Conclusion

Mississippi Medicaid offers comprehensive health coverage to low-income families, individuals, and other eligible groups. Eligibility is based on factors such as age, disability, pregnancy, citizenship, and residency.

It is also assessed according to your monthly income, with the average income eligibility threshold for Medicaid in Mississippi set at or below 138% of the federal poverty level. Individuals can apply online, in person, via mail or by phone through the Mississippi Division of Medicaid or on Medicaid.gov.