Mississippi Medicaid Income Limits – 2021

The Medicaid Income Limit is the most important criteria for deciding whether you qualify for Medicaid in your state. In this post, we are going to explain in detail the Mississippi Medicaid Income Limits for 2021.

Based on this information, you will be able to determine whether your income qualifies you for Mississippi Medicaid or not.

However, before we get into details about the income limit, we will first explain the Medicaid program in Mississippi and how it works.

Next, we will discuss who is eligible for Medicaid, including how eligibility works for various categories, including Children, Pregnant Women, and Adults.

What is Medicaid?

Medicaid is a federal and state health insurance program for people with a low income.

It provides free or low-cost health coverage to millions of Americans, including families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) offers health coverage to children in families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid, but who can’t afford private coverage.

How Many People are on Medicaid?

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as of November 2020, here are the number of people enrolled in Medicaid and Chip in the entire United States:

• 78,521,263 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP
• 72,204,587 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid
• 6,695,834 individuals were enrolled in CHIP

Mississippi Medicaid

The Mississippi Medicaid program provides medical coverage to low-income individuals and families.

As of 2020, the program, along with the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) covered 669,452 people.

This includes 453,000 children as shown by the image below.

The Medicaid program in the state of Mississippi is run by the Mississippi Division of Medicaid.

Who Can Get Medicaid in Mississippi?

You should apply for Medicaid if your income is low and you match one of the descriptions below:

• You think you are pregnant
• The parent or caretaker of a child and/or teenager under the age of 19.
• You are a child or teenager age 18 or under.
• An adult age 65 or older.
• You are legally blind.
• Living with a disability or disabled.
• You are in need of nursing home care.

Mississippi Medicaid Income Limit

The Mississippi Medicaid Income Limit is calculated as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Line.

To qualify, you must meet the Mississippi Medicaid Income limits listed below.

Here is the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for 2021.

Additionally, to be eligible for Medicaid, you cannot make more than the income guidelines outlined below:

• Children up to age 1 with family income up to 194 percent of FPL
• Any child age 1-5 with a family income up to 143 percent of FPL
• Children ages 6- 18 with family income up to 133 percent of FPL
• CHIP for children with family income up to 209 percent of FPL
• Pregnant women with family income up to 194 percent of FPL
• Parents of minor children with family income up to 21 percent of FPL
• Individuals who are elderly, blind, and disabled with family income up to 74% of the FPL

Mississippi Medicaid Income Limit Charts

The Mississippi Medicaid eligibility income limit charts are divided by groups.

For example, the first chart is focused on income limits for children who qualify for Medicaid.

Similarly, the second chart below focuses on the Medicaid income limits for adults in Mississippi who qualify for Medicaid.

Mississippi Medicaid Income Limit for Children 

Below is the income limit for children by age category. Find the age category your child falls into and you will see the income limit by household size.

Next is the income limit for adults by category. Find the category you fall into and you will see the income limit by household size.

Mississippi has expanded Medicaid to include adults without dependents.

Therefore, adults without dependents can apply for Medicaid in Mississippi.

For an update on the Medicaid expansion debate and timeline in Mississippi, see our Mississippi Expansion update below.

Mississippi Medicaid Income Limit for Adults

How to Read the Mississippi Medicaid Income Limits Charts Above

You cannot have an income higher than the Federal Poverty Level percentage described for your group to be eligible for Medicaid.

Similarly, when you identify the income group that applies to you, the income limit you see refers to the maximum level of income you can earn to qualify for benefits.

For example, if you are pregnant, to qualify for Medicaid, you cannot have an income higher than 156% of the Federal Poverty Level – which for a family of two is  $27,175 as shown in the chart above.

How to Apply for Mississippi Medicaid

There are 3 ways you can apply for Medicaid in Mississippi.

Option 1 – Apply online

You can apply online through the Mississippi’s Common Web Portal – as shown in the image below.

If you have an account, you can log in or create your Mississippi’s Common Web Portal Account. Click here to be taken to the website.

Option 2 – Apply at Mississippi Division of Medicaid Office Near You

You can apply in person at the Mississippi Division of Medicaid Office near you. Click here to locate an office.

Option 3 – Download Application

You can download an application, complete it, and:

• Fax the Office of Eligibility at the Division of Medicaid: 601-576-4164
  
• Mail to: 550 High Street, Suite 1000, Jackson, MS 39201 or the regional office that serves your county of residence.

Mississippi Medicaid Phone Number

Here’s how to contact the Mississippi Division of Medicaid (DOM):

Toll-free: 800-421-2408

DOM main switchboard phone: 601-359-6050

DOM general fax: 601-359-6294

Office of Client Relations fax: 601-359-4185

Mailing address: 550 High Street, Suite 1000, Jackson, MS 39201

Mississippi Medicaid Expansion Update

The state of Mississippi has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA.

If Mississippi did expand Medicaid, an estimated 220,000 would be newly eligible for coverage.

Unfortunately, even in the poorest, sickest state in the U.S., the majority of lawmakers and two governors have opted to reject federal funds that would provide health insurance for the state’s poorest residents.

Additionally, despite the fact that Mississippi hasn’t expanded Medicaid and has some of the most stringent eligibility guidelines in the country.

Furthermore, the state is seeking federal approval to make it even harder for people to get Medicaid coverage in Mississippi with more stringent work requirements.

Mississippi Medicaid Income Limits Summary

We hope this post on Mississippi Medicaid Income Limits was helpful to you.

If you have any questions about Medicaid in the state of Mississippi, you can ask us in the comments section below.

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Be sure to check out our other articles about Medicaid.
Income limits for Florida Medicaid
Alabama Medicaid Income Limits and How to Apply
Alaska Medicaid Income Limits and Chart
Missouri HealthNet Income Limits Chart