Black Health
Eligibility Mississippi · Mississippi Medicaid

Medicaid eligibility in Mississippi — income limits for 2025

The number

Mississippi Medicaid covers pregnant women up to 194% of the federal poverty line — $50,090 annual income for a family of three in 2025.

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Income limits in dollars (2025)

Category % FPL Household of 1 Household of 3 Household of 4
Pregnant women 194% $29,220 $50,090 $60,530
Children 0-5 209% $31,480 $53,960 $65,210
Children 6-18 209% $31,480 $53,960 $65,210
Parents / caretakers 26% $3,920 $6,710 $8,110

Who qualifies and how the income limits work

Mississippi Medicaid uses modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) rules to test eligibility. For 2025, the thresholds for a three-person household are: pregnant women up to 194% of the federal poverty line ($50,090), children 0-5 up to 209% ($53,960), children 6-18 up to 209% ($53,960), and parents / caretaker relatives with dependents up to 26% ($6,710).

Mississippi has not adopted Medicaid expansion. Adults 19-64 without dependent children have no path to Medicaid no matter how low their income. Parents earning above 26% FPL ($6,710 for a three-person household) and below 100% FPL fall into the coverage gap — too much for Medicaid, too little for ACA marketplace subsidies. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates non-expansion states account for nearly all of the 1.5 million Americans in that gap.

Citizenship / immigration status: US citizens and most lawfully present immigrants (with a 5-year waiting period for most categories under PRWORA) qualify if they meet the income test. Pregnant women and children may qualify in narrower circumstances under the CHIPRA 2009 state option. Assets test: no assets / resources test for MAGI-category applicants; a test applies for long-term care and non-MAGI applicants.

Mississippi is one of ten non-expansion states. The Mississippi Health Advocacy Program has documented that roughly 100,000 Mississippians fall into the coverage gap. House Bill 1725 (2024) passed the House but died in Senate conference — the closest expansion has come.

For Black families

Because Mississippi has not expanded Medicaid, Black parents earning between the state's parent ceiling and 100% FPL fall into the coverage gap. KFF estimates Black residents make up a disproportionate share of that gap in every non-expansion state. Mississippi is one of ten non-expansion states. The Mississippi Health Advocacy Program has documented that roughly 100,000 Mississippians fall into the coverage gap. House Bill 1725 (2024) passed the House but died in Senate conference — the closest expansion has come.

Where to get help in Mississippi

  • Federally Qualified Health Centers in Mississippi: every FQHC accepts Medicaid, charges on a sliding scale for the uninsured, and has certified application counselors who can help you apply or renew. See our FQHC directory for this state at /clinics/ms/.
  • Medicaid-accepting providers in Mississippi: our provider directory lets you filter to providers in this state. See /providers/ms/.
  • State health profile for Mississippi: for state-level health outcomes context (maternal mortality, infant mortality, life expectancy, uninsured rate) by race, see /health/mississippi/.
  • Mississippi Medicaid consumer help line: 1-800-421-2408 for application help, renewal questions, and general Medicaid inquiries. Ask for an interpreter if you need one; language access is required under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

References & primary sources

Data refreshed: