If you’re pregnant or parenting you probably know that it is important to have some sort of healthcare coverage for you and your kids. Healthcare can be so expensive! If you have private health insurance through an employer or some other means, like your parents or partner, you can see any doctor listed by your insurance. If you don’t have insurance, don’t worry! You can still get the healthcare coverage you need through Medicaid.

Medicaid is a federal and state program created to provide medical assistance for eligible populations. To receive Medicaid, you must meet certain eligibility requirements. The benefits included in Medicaid depend on your income, age, family size, and situation.

Learn if you’re eligible, how to apply, and how to appeal a decision!

1. Eligibility Requirements

Basic eligibility requirements for Mississippi Medicaid include:

• Being a citizen of the united states or a qualified alien
• Being a resident of the state of Mississippi
• Pregnant women are eligible for full healthcare benefits through two months postpartum and are automatically put on a family planning waiver for one year if family income is at or less than 194% of the federal poverty level for their family size. For a family of one, income requirements are less than $2,419 monthly. This number changes based on the number of children, as reflected in this chart

• Any child born to a Medicaid eligible mother automatically receives full benefits until the age of one
• Pregnant women under the age of 19 can qualify, regardless of family income

To be eligible for Mississippi Medicaid you must also file an application form and provide the required documentation in the time allotted.

2. How to Apply

You can apply for Medicaid online, by mail, or in-person.

• You can apply online in two places:

  • access.ms.gov

This is a direct Mississippi Medicaid application, and it will initially be handled on the state level. If your application is not eligible for Mississippi Medicaid it will be automatically referred to Federally Facilitated Marketplace for insurance affordability options.

• • healthcare.gov

This is an application for insurance affordability and Medicaid, and it will initially be handled on the national level. If  your application is eligible for Mississippi Medicaid, it will be transferred to the state. If it is not eligible for Mississippi Medicaid, applicants can view other insurance affordability program options on healthcare.gov, directly.

• You can apply in person at one of the 30 regional offices that serves your county of residence.

  • Jackson Office: 601-978-2399 (Serves Hinds County)
  • Canton Office: 601-859-3230 (Serves Madison and Northern Hinds County)
  • Brandon Office: 601-825-0477 (Serves Rankin, Simpson, and Smith Counties)
  • Brookhaven Office: 601-835-2020 (Serves Copiah, Lawrence, and Lincoln Counties)

• You can apply by mail by printing an application on either website, completing the application, and mailing it to the Division of Medicaid in one of the following ways:

  • 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

• If you want an application mailed to you or if you need telephone assistance:

  • Call the Office of Eligibility toll-free at: 800-421-2408
  • Contact the regional office that serves your county of residence

3. Required Documents for Application

To apply for Mississippi Medicaid, these are the required documents:

• Social Security Numbers or document numbers for legal immigrants who need insurance
• Dates of birth for each person applying
• Employer and income information for each person in the family with income. Use income from the most recent month’s pay stubs or W-2 forms or any document that shows exactly what each person receives as income
• Policy numbers for any current health insurance
• Information about any job-related health insurance available to your family

4. Appealing a decision:

If you are not approved for Medicaid and you disagree with this decision, there are steps you can take. You can request a local or state hearing.

• There are two ways to do this:

  • Contact the Medicaid regional office shown on your notice in person, via mail, by telephone, or through other commonly accepted electronic means such as fax or e-mail. Inform them that you would like to appeal the action taken on your case and whether you would like a state or local hearing.
  • Go to medicaid.ms.gov to request a hearing using the general inquiry form located in the “Contact” link. Using this form, inform them that you would like the appeal the action taken on your case.

Thinking about healthcare coverage and applying for Medicaid can seem really overwhelming.

If you need additional support, you can always schedule a consultation!