Mississippi Medicaid & CHIP
Last updated August 2026
Mississippi Medicaid covers children, pregnant women, and aged or disabled residents, but there is one hard fact to know up front: Mississippi has not adopted Medicaid expansion. There is no coverage category for low-income able-bodied adults without dependent children. For questions and applications, call the Division of Medicaid at 1-800-421-2408.
The children's and pregnancy doors are the widest, so start there. Children qualify for Medicaid or CHIP when family income does not exceed 209 percent of the federal poverty level, and pregnant women qualify under 194 percent. A child may qualify even when the parents cannot.
The parent limit is the hardest to hear. Eligibility for low-income parents and caretaker relatives is not based on the poverty level; Mississippi uses a very low fixed dollar standard, so most non-disabled adults do not qualify. Apply for the children regardless.
Aged, blind, and disabled residents have their own paths. Those seeking nursing-facility or Home and Community-Based Services waiver coverage must have monthly income within 300 percent of the SSI benefit rate, and the Healthier Mississippi Waiver covers certain aged or disabled adults with income up to 135 percent of poverty.
The full list of coverage groups includes children from birth to 19, pregnant and postpartum women, the aged and disabled, women with breast or cervical cancer, and SSI recipients. If you fall into one of those, apply.
Even if the adults do not qualify, apply for the children and check the federal Marketplace at HealthCare.gov, which may offer low-cost plans. 2-1-1 points to community health centers that see patients regardless of coverage.
Phone 1-800-421-2408
Help available in English and Spanish.
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- Mississippi residents who fall in a covered group: children, pregnant people, parents and caretakers of minor children, people who are aged, blind, or disabled, and certain working people with disabilities
- Mississippi did not expand Medicaid, so adults ages 19 to 64 without a qualifying category such as pregnancy, disability, or a dependent child generally do not qualify
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Contact the Division of Medicaid at 1-800-421-2408 to apply or ask questions.
- 2
If the adults are over the limit, apply for the children (up to 209 percent of poverty).
- 3
A pregnant applicant should apply right away (up to 194 percent).
- 4
If no one qualifies, check HealthCare.gov for low-cost Marketplace plans.
What to have ready
- Photo ID and Social Security numbers for those applying
- Proof of income and Mississippi residency
- Proof that a child lives with you, for children's coverage.
What the application looks like
Common questions
Can a childless adult get Medicaid in Mississippi?
No. Mississippi has not expanded Medicaid, so there is no coverage category for able-bodied adults without dependent children.
What about my kids and pregnancy?
Children qualify for Medicaid or CHIP up to 209 percent of poverty, and pregnant women up to 194 percent. Apply for the children even if the parents do not qualify.
Do parents qualify?
Only at a very low fixed dollar standard, not the poverty level, so most non-disabled parents do not qualify. Apply for the children regardless.
What if no one in my family qualifies?
Check HealthCare.gov for low-cost Marketplace plans, and dial 2-1-1 for community health centers.
Not sure this is the right program for your situation?
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