Mississippi Medicaid for Seniors & Long-Term Care
Updated August 2026
Qualifying for Medicaid-funded long-term care in Mississippi requires meeting both financial criteria (income and assets) and a functional need assessment. The financial rules for LTC are different from, and more restrictive than, the MAGI rules used for children or pregnant women. Mississippi's $4,000 individual countable asset limit for LTC applicants is higher than the $2,000 standard used by many states.
$4,000
Individual countable asset limit
$2,982/mo
Nursing facility income limit (300% SSI, 2026)
Elderly and Disabled (E&D) Waiver
Main HCBS waiver for seniors
Mississippi Medicaid HCBS waivers have waiting lists — apply early
Mississippi Medicaid covers nursing facility care and home and community-based services (HCBS) for seniors and adults with disabilities. Mississippi has several HCBS waiver programs that allow qualifying individuals to receive care at home as an alternative to nursing facilities, but per the Division of Medicaid (DOM), HCBS waiver programs operate with capped enrollment and waitlists exist. Contact DOM at 1-800-421-2408 or visit medicaid.ms.gov for current program availability.
Financial eligibility for Mississippi Medicaid long-term care
| Factor | Standard (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing facility income limit | $2,982/mo (300% SSI) | Income trust (Miller Trust) used when income exceeds limit |
| Countable asset limit — individual | $4,000 | Mississippi's individual asset limit is $4,000 — higher than many states' $2,000 standard |
| Asset limit — community spouse | Up to $162,660 (2026 CSRA) | Federal spousal impoverishment protections apply |
| Level-of-care | Nursing facility level of care | Functional assessment by DOM required; determines nursing vs. HCBS eligibility |
Nursing facility income limit
- Standard (2026)
- $2,982/mo (300% SSI)
- Notes
- Income trust (Miller Trust) used when income exceeds limit
Countable asset limit — individual
- Standard (2026)
- $4,000
- Notes
- Mississippi's individual asset limit is $4,000 — higher than many states' $2,000 standard
Asset limit — community spouse
- Standard (2026)
- Up to $162,660 (2026 CSRA)
- Notes
- Federal spousal impoverishment protections apply
Level-of-care
- Standard (2026)
- Nursing facility level of care
- Notes
- Functional assessment by DOM required; determines nursing vs. HCBS eligibility
Home and community-based waivers
Mississippi operates several HCBS waivers that allow Medicaid to fund community-based care rather than nursing facility placement. The Elderly and Disabled (E&D) Waiver is the main program for seniors, providing adult day care, case management, in-home respite, personal care, extended home health, community transition services, home-delivered meals, and institutional respite care for people who need nursing facility level of care. The Division of Medicaid also operates a separate Assisted Living Waiver for eligible seniors and adults with disabilities who need residential care with services. These waivers operate under Section 1915(c) authority and are subject to enrollment caps. CMS renewed Mississippi's five HCBS waivers, including the E&D Waiver, with updated regulations that took effect June 1, 2025.
- Personal care attendant services (assistance with daily living activities)
- Homemaker and housekeeping services
- Home health aide visits
- Adult day health services
- Respite care for family members providing care
- Home modifications for accessibility (grab bars, ramps, widened doorways)
- Assistive technology and medical equipment
- Case management and care coordination
Waiting lists are common — Mississippi's home-based waiver programs are consistently oversubscribed. Apply as early as possible through DOM. Placement on a waiting list does not affect Medicaid eligibility for other covered services while waiting.
Spousal impoverishment protections
Under 42 USC 1396r-5, Mississippi protects the non-institutionalized spouse from impoverishment. The community spouse may retain:
- Up to $162,660 in countable assets (2026 CSRA — federal maximum)
- A Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance, ensuring the community spouse keeps approximately $2,705/month minimum in income (2026 federal floor, effective 7/1/26–6/30/27)
- The primary home, exempt while the community spouse lives in it
Mississippi estate recovery
Mississippi's Medicaid Estate Recovery Program (MERP) is required by 42 USC 1396p. After a recipient age 55 or older dies following receipt of nursing facility or HCBS waiver services, DOM may file a claim against the estate for the value of services provided. Recovery is typically deferred while a surviving spouse, minor child, or disabled child resides in the home. Mississippi allows hardship waivers in certain circumstances.
Mississippi also has a 5-year look-back period for asset transfers — transferring assets below fair market value within 5 years of applying can result in a penalty period of ineligibility. Consult a Mississippi elder law attorney before making large gifts or asset transfers if LTC Medicaid may be needed.
Nursing facility coverage
Mississippi Medicaid covers skilled nursing facility care for seniors who meet clinical and financial criteria. Clinical eligibility requires a documented need for skilled nursing care — typically assessed through a standardized instrument. Financial eligibility means income and countable assets fall within the program's limits.
Once approved, Medicaid pays the nursing home directly. The resident contributes most of their monthly income toward the cost of care — typically all income minus a personal needs allowance, which is $44/month in Mississippi. If income exceeds the institutional Medicaid limit, Mississippi may use a "Miller Trust" (qualified income trust) arrangement to route excess income through a trust account, making the person financially eligible.
What long-term care Medicaid typically covers
Long-term care Medicaid in Mississippi covers a range of institutional and home-based services for eligible seniors and adults with disabilities.
- Skilled nursing facility care — room, board, nursing services, and most medical care in the facility
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapy provided in a nursing home
- Personal care assistance with daily activities (bathing, dressing, eating) through HCBS waivers
- Home health aide visits for those receiving care at home
- Adult day health care programs
- Respite care to give family caregivers temporary relief
- Durable medical equipment prescribed by a physician
- Transportation to and from medical appointments
Mississippi Medicaid
- Mississippi Division of Medicaid (DOM): 1-800-421-2408
Related guides
Medicaid for Seniors
How Medicaid pays for nursing home and long-term care for older adults.
Read more →Estate Recovery
When states can seek reimbursement from an enrollee's estate after death.
Read more →Medicaid & Social Security
How Social Security benefits and Medicaid eligibility interact.
Read more →