Mississippi Medicaid does pay for care at home and in the community, and its main pathway for aged and disabled adults is the Elderly and Disabled (E&D) Waiver. These Mississippi Medicaid HCBS waivers, where HCBS is short for home and community-based services, are built for people who, but for that help, would otherwise need the level of care a nursing facility provides.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov (CMS) - Mississippi Waiver Descriptions and Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/MS Instead of moving into an institution, an eligible person can stay in their own home and receive services like personal care, home-delivered meals, and adult day health care paid by Medicaid.
In This Guide
- What Are Mississippi Medicaid HCBS Waivers?
- The E&D Waiver and Mississippi's Other HCBS Programs
- Who Qualifies for Mississippi Medicaid HCBS Waivers?
- What the E&D Waiver Pays For
- How Enrollment and Case Management Work
- How to Apply
What Are Mississippi Medicaid HCBS Waivers?
Home and community-based services (HCBS) waivers are a way for a state to use Medicaid dollars on care delivered in your home or community rather than inside a nursing facility. The federal authority behind them is Section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act, which lets a state ask the federal government to "waive" some standard Medicaid rules so it can offer this kind of care. You will often see them written as 1915(c) waivers.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov (CMS) - Mississippi Waiver Descriptions and Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/MS
The core idea is a trade. To use one of these waivers, a person has to need a nursing facility level of care, which is the same medical threshold that would qualify them for a nursing home. The waiver then pays for services that let them stay at home instead. That is why eligibility looks at both sides of the coin: the medical need that would otherwise send someone to an institution, and the income and asset rules that Medicaid applies to long-term care.
Mississippi runs its version of this through the Mississippi Division of Medicaid, and its flagship program for older adults and adults with disabilities is the E&D Waiver. The rest of this guide focuses on that program, with a quick note on the state's parallel waivers for other populations.
The E&D Waiver and Mississippi's Other HCBS Programs
The Elderly and Disabled (E&D) Waiver is administered and operated by the Division of Medicaid's Office of Long Term Care, and case management is provided by the local Planning and Development Districts, the regional bodies that assign a case manager to help build and monitor your care plan.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov (CMS) - Mississippi Waiver Descriptions and Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/MS It provides home and community-based services to people age 21 and older who, without those services, would need a nursing facility level of care.
Mississippi also runs several other 1915(c) waivers for different groups. Alongside the E&D Waiver, the state operates a parallel Independent Living Waiver, and separate waivers for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and for assisted living settings.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov (CMS) - Mississippi Waiver Descriptions and Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/MS Each of those serves a distinct population, so the E&D Waiver is the one most families arrive at when they are trying to keep an aging parent or a disabled adult at home.
Who Qualifies for Mississippi Medicaid HCBS Waivers?
Qualifying for the E&D Waiver means clearing two separate tests: a medical (functional) test and a financial test. You have to pass both.
The Medical Test: A Nursing Facility Level of Care
On the medical side, an applicant must be age 21 or older and meet a nursing facility level of care.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov (CMS) - Mississippi Waiver Descriptions and Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/MS In plain terms, that means your care needs are serious enough that, but for the waiver's services, you would require the kind of help a nursing facility provides. The federal waiver factsheet describes the same population as people age 65 or older and adults with physical disabilities ages 21 to 64 who meet that nursing facility level of care.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov (CMS) - Mississippi Waiver Descriptions and Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/MS A case manager assesses whether you meet the standard.
The Financial Test: Income and Assets
On the financial side, there are two ways to qualify. You can qualify as a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipient, or you can meet the income and resource limits Mississippi uses for long-term care.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov (CMS) - Mississippi Waiver Descriptions and Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/MS Under the Division of Medicaid's long-term-care rules, revised January 1, 2026, the numbers for 2026 are:
- In 2026, Mississippi Medicaid's monthly income limit for the E&D Waiver is $2,982 before deductions, which is 300% of the SSI federal benefit rate.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov (CMS) - Mississippi Waiver Descriptions and Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/MS
- For 2026, Mississippi Medicaid's individual resource (asset) limit for the E&D Waiver is $4,000.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov (CMS) - Mississippi Waiver Descriptions and Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/MS
- Home equity: one home may be excluded unless its equity value is more than $752,000.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov (CMS) - Mississippi Waiver Descriptions and Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/MS
- A five-year (60-month) look-back applies to transfers of assets, meaning the state reviews the previous 60 months to see whether you gave away money or property to qualify.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov (CMS) - Mississippi Waiver Descriptions and Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/MS
If your income is above the $2,982 limit, you are not automatically shut out. An applicant whose income exceeds the limit may still qualify by using an Income Trust, a legal arrangement that holds the excess income so it does not count against you.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov (CMS) - Mississippi Waiver Descriptions and Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/MS Setting one up is worth talking through with an elder law attorney, since the mechanics have to be done correctly to work.
For the broader picture of how the state counts income and assets across all its Medicaid programs, see our guide to Mississippi Medicaid income and asset limits.
What the E&D Waiver Pays For
Once a person is approved, the case manager can refer them to a defined set of home and community-based services. The covered services under the E&D Waiver include:Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov (CMS) - Mississippi Waiver Descriptions and Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/MS
- Adult day health care
- Personal care services
- Home-delivered meals
- In-home respite
- Institutional respite
- Expanded home health visits
- Community transition services
- Medication management
- Environmental safety services
- Physical therapy and speech therapy
These are the supports that make staying at home realistic: help with bathing, dressing, and daily tasks through personal care; a break for a family caregiver through respite; nutrition through home-delivered meals; and safety modifications through environmental safety services. Which specific services you receive depends on what your assessment shows you need, and your case manager builds that into your care plan.
How Enrollment and Case Management Work
After you apply and are found eligible, a case manager from your regional Planning and Development District becomes your main point of contact.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov (CMS) - Mississippi Waiver Descriptions and Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/MS That case manager assesses your needs, helps develop your care plan, refers you to the covered services, and checks in over time as your situation changes.
Slot availability for a 1915(c) waiver can change from year to year, and any interest-list or enrollment timing depends on how the program is running when you apply. Because that status shifts, the reliable way to find out whether you can enroll now is to contact the Mississippi Division of Medicaid directly rather than rely on secondhand information. They can tell you the current process and where things stand for your situation.
How to Apply
You apply through the Mississippi Division of Medicaid, which you can reach toll-free at 800-421-2408.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov (CMS) - Mississippi Waiver Descriptions and Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/MS The agency can walk you through the E&D Waiver application and connect you with the Planning and Development District that serves your area.
Federal Medicaid rules also give you more than one way to file an application. The state agency must accept applications online, by phone, by mail, and in person.U.S. Government Publishing Office. (n.d.). 42 CFR 435.907 — Application (eCFR, current). ecfr.gov. Retrieved Jul 13, 2026, from https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/section-435.907 So you are not locked into a single method; pick the channel that works best for you.
Once you apply, the state has a set window to make a decision. Under federal rules, a Medicaid eligibility determination may not take longer than 90 days for applications based on disability, and 45 days for other applicants, except in unusual circumstances.U.S. Government Publishing Office. (2024). 42 CFR 435.912 Timely determination and redetermination of eligibility (2024 ed.) — govinfo.gov. govinfo.gov. Retrieved Jun 25, 2026, from https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2024-title42-vol4/pdf/CFR-2024-title42-vol4-sec435-912.pdf Keeping copies of everything you submit and following up if you approach those limits will help keep your application moving.
If a nursing home rather than home care is what you are weighing, our guide to Mississippi Medicaid and nursing home care covers that side of long-term care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is being placed on an interest list the same as being denied?
No. A 1915(c) waiver runs a limited number of slots, and openings turn over as people enter and leave the program, so being asked to wait is about capacity, not about whether you meet the rules. To learn where enrollment stands right now, call the Mississippi Division of Medicaid at 800-421-2408 rather than assuming a slot is closed.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov (CMS) - Mississippi Waiver Descriptions and Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/MS
Will an Income Trust also fix an asset problem?
No, and this is a common mix-up. An Income Trust only addresses income above the $2,982 monthly limit by capturing the excess so Medicaid does not count it.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov (CMS) - Mississippi Waiver Descriptions and Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/MS The separate $4,000 individual resource (asset) limit still has to be met on its own, so both tests apply. Because these trusts have to be set up correctly, it is worth getting help from an elder law attorney.
How is the E&D Waiver different from nursing home Medicaid?
Both use the same nursing facility level of care as the medical threshold, but the E&D Waiver pays for services in your own home and community instead of inside a facility.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov (CMS) - Mississippi Waiver Descriptions and Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/MS The waiver exists so that a person who would otherwise need a nursing home can stay home and still get Medicaid-funded care. If institutional care is the better fit, that is covered under Mississippi's nursing home Medicaid rules instead.
Learn More
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The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.