How to Apply for Mississippi Medicaid 2026: DOM Guide

To apply for Mississippi Medicaid for long-term care, contact the Mississippi Division of Medicaid (DOM): by phone at 1-800-421-2408, in person at a DOM regional office, or by mail. Mississippi is an income-cap state with no medically needy spend-down, meaning applicants with income above $2,982/month must set up a Miller Trust before they can qualify. The state also uses a higher-than-usual asset limit of $4,000 for a single applicant.

In This Guide

• Key Facts
• Before You Apply: The Income Trust Requirement
• How to Apply for Mississippi Medicaid
• What Documents You'll Need
• What Happens After You Apply
• If Your Application Is Denied
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Learn More

For official program details, visit medicaid.ms.gov.

Before You Apply: The Income Trust Requirement

Mississippi is an income-cap state, which means it does not operate a medically needy spend-down for nursing-facility or HCBS-waiver Medicaid. If an applicant's gross monthly income is at or below $2,982, they can proceed to the application. If income exceeds that cap, the application will be denied unless a Qualified Income Trust (QIT) -- also called a Miller Trust -- is in place first.

A Miller Trust works like this: gross income above the cap is deposited into the trust each month. From there, it's paid out in a specific order -- first the personal needs allowance ($44 or $90), then the community spouse's income allowance if applicable, then the nursing facility's cost of care, with the remainder going to the state as Medicaid's share. The trust must be legally established before DOM processes the application; DOM will not approve an application from an over-income applicant without one.

Setting up a Miller Trust requires a trust document drafted and signed by an elder law attorney. It cannot be a standard revocable trust. Families who discover they need one after starting the application process typically take two to four weeks to get it in place, so addressing income first saves time.

How to Apply for Mississippi Medicaid

Mississippi routes all long-term care Medicaid applications through DOM regional offices. Unlike many states that use county DSS offices or an online portal for these applications, Mississippi's DOM handles them directly through its own regional network. There are three ways to apply.

By Phone

Call DOM's statewide number: 1-800-421-2408. A representative can take your information, explain what documents you'll need, and connect you with the regional office that covers your area. For TTY/TDD users, call Mississippi Relay at 711.

Phone is a good first step if you're not sure which regional office to contact, or if you want to confirm your income and asset situation before driving to an office.

In Person at a DOM Regional Office

DOM operates regional offices across the state. To find the one nearest you, call 1-800-421-2408 or check the DOM office locator on the DOM website. Bring your full document packet (see below) -- applications submitted in person are reviewed while you wait in many cases, and staff can flag missing items immediately rather than mailing you a deficiency notice later.

In-person applications also give you direct access to a caseworker who can answer questions about the Miller Trust requirement, spousal impoverishment protections, or the look-back period.

By Mail

Download or request a paper application from DOM, complete it, and mail it to the DOM regional office that covers your county. Call 1-800-421-2408 to confirm the correct mailing address before sending, since regional offices have different addresses.

When applying by mail, keep a copy of everything you submit and send documents in a way that gives you a delivery confirmation. DOM measures its processing clock from the date an application is received, not the date you mailed it.

What Documents You'll Need

Missing paperwork is the most common reason applications are delayed. Gather everything below before contacting DOM.

Identity and residency:

• Social Security card or proof of Social Security number
• U.S. birth certificate, passport, or Certificate of Naturalization
• State-issued photo ID or driver's license
• Proof of Mississippi residency (utility bill, lease, or similar)

Income:

• Social Security award letter or most recent SSA-1099
• Pension and retirement benefit statements
• Any other income source documentation (annuity, rental income, VA benefit letter)

Financial accounts:

• Bank statements for all checking and savings accounts -- DOM typically wants the current month plus the prior three months at minimum
• Statements for CDs, stocks, bonds, and retirement accounts
• For nursing-facility or waiver applications, be prepared to provide 60 months of financial records for the look-back review

Property and assets:

• Deed to the primary residence and recent property tax bill
• Vehicle title or registration
• Life insurance policies (both face value and cash surrender value)
• Burial plot deeds and prepaid funeral contracts (these are typically exempt)

If married:

• Documentation of all joint and separate assets (both spouses)
• The community spouse may keep half the couple's countable assets up to $162,660 (minimum $32,532 under the 2026 Community Spouse Resource Allowance rules)

Miller Trust documentation (if applicable):

• A copy of the signed trust document
• The trust bank account number (a dedicated account must be opened)

Medical:

• Physician's statement confirming the level-of-care need (nursing-facility level of care is required for institutional Medicaid and most HCBS waivers)
• Medicare card and any supplemental insurance cards

What Happens After You Apply

DOM is required to process applications within a federally mandated timeframe -- generally 45 days for aged, blind, or disabled applicants; 90 days when a disability determination is needed. If the application is incomplete, DOM will send a written request for the missing items, and the clock pauses until those documents are received.

Once approved, coverage can be backdated to the first day of the month in which the application was filed, provided the applicant was eligible on that date. For nursing-facility residents, this can matter significantly for billing purposes -- confirm the backdating date with DOM at the time of approval.

If a Miller Trust is required, DOM will not finalize approval until the trust is established and documented. Applicants in this situation should have the trust in place and its documents submitted before or alongside the application, not after.

After approval, a nursing-facility resident keeps a $44/month personal needs allowance from their income. Veterans and surviving spouses receiving a VA pension keep $90/month. Everything else goes toward the cost of care, in the order DOM specifies.

If Your Application Is Denied

DOM must issue a written denial notice explaining the reason. Common reasons include income over the cap without a Miller Trust in place, assets over the $4,000/$6,000 limit, an incomplete application, or a disqualifying asset transfer within the 60-month look-back window.

You have the right to request a fair hearing to contest a denial. The request must typically be submitted within a specified number of days of the denial notice -- confirm the exact deadline from the notice itself, since Mississippi's administrative rules set this timeframe. Request a hearing by contacting DOM directly at 1-800-421-2408 or by submitting a written request to the regional office that handled your application.

Before requesting a hearing, it's worth asking DOM to clarify the denial reason -- sometimes what appears to be a denial is a request for additional documentation or a fixable deficiency rather than a substantive ineligibility finding. An elder law attorney can review the denial and advise on whether an appeal or a revised application is the better path.

Learn More

• Mississippi Medicaid Eligibility and Income Limits
• Medicaid Planning Strategies
• Medicaid Estate Recovery Explained

Find personalized help applying for Mississippi Medicaid long-term care coverage at brevy.com.

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.