Mississippi Medicaid and CHIP for Caretaker Relatives Raising a Child

The child moved in with you and needs to see a doctor. You are not sure whether your health insurance covers them (it almost certainly does not), and you do not have a court order. The good news: Mississippi lets relative caregivers apply for Medicaid and CHIP for a child in their care without formal custody.

Caretaker Relative Medicaid in Mississippi

The Mississippi Division of Medicaid recognizes a category called "caretaker relative" — a relative who lives with and provides primary care for a child when a parent is absent, incapacitated, deceased, or otherwise not in the home. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, adult siblings, and other relatives may qualify if they meet the program's relationship and eligibility rules.

A caretaker relative's income can matter for the adult's own Caretaker Relative Medicaid eligibility; it is not automatically disregarded. Monthly limits for that category are $281 for a one-person household and $476 for a three-person household in specific caretaker categories, and cooperation with child-support enforcement may be required. A child's Medicaid or CHIP eligibility is a separate determination under the child coverage rules. Ask the Division of Medicaid which category and household size apply.

CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program)

If the child's household income is above the Medicaid threshold but still modest, Mississippi's CHIP program provides health coverage for children up to age 19. CHIP covers doctor visits, prescriptions, dental care, vision care, mental health services, and hospitalizations.

The application process for CHIP goes through the same portal as Medicaid. When you apply, the Division of Medicaid determines whether the child qualifies for Medicaid first and, if not, whether CHIP applies.

How to Apply

Applications are processed through the Mississippi Division of Medicaid in several ways:

• Online: The Mississippi ACCESS portal (access.ms.gov) allows you to submit an application and upload documentation electronically
• In person: Visit a Mississippi Division of Medicaid Regional Office
• By phone: Call the Division of Medicaid to request an application by mail or ask questions about the process

When applying as a caretaker relative, you may need to complete the child's Authorized Representative designation. A court custody order is not required just to submit the application, but you must meet the program's relationship and eligibility rules. Explain the caregiving arrangement — that the child lives with you and the parent is not in the home — and provide basic information about the child.

What You Need for the Application

Gather these before starting:

• The child's full name, date of birth, and Social Security number (if available)
• The child's birth certificate or other proof of identity
• Proof of Mississippi residency (your utility bill, lease, or mortgage statement showing the child's current address)
• Information about any income the child receives (such as Social Security survivor benefits or child support)
• Information about the absent parent's situation, if known
• Your own identification as the caretaker relative

You do not need a court order, a guardianship decree, or a power of attorney just to apply. Follow the Division's current instructions for identifying yourself as the caretaker relative or authorized representative and for submitting any requested documents.

Child-Only TANF for Relative Caregivers

Separate from Medicaid, Mississippi's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program offers a "child-only" grant for children living with relative caregivers. The grant goes toward the child's basic needs — food, clothing, and shelter.

The child-only TANF grant evaluates only the child's resources, not the caregiver's income. This means a grandparent's Social Security or pension does not count against the child's eligibility. The amounts are modest — Mississippi's TANF benefits are among the lowest in the country — but every dollar helps when you are clothing and feeding a child you were not expecting.

Apply for child-only TANF through the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS), which administers TANF separately from Medicaid. Follow MDHS's current application instructions.

Medical Consent Is a Separate Question

Getting the child enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP gives them health insurance coverage. But walking into a doctor's office also requires someone with legal authority to consent to treatment. These are two different things.

Under Mississippi Code § 41-41-3, guardians or custodians, parents, adult siblings, and grandparents are listed in descending priority for medical consent. A grandparent's ability to consent depends on whether higher-priority people are reasonably available. Whether Medicaid or CHIP covers a service depends on the child's eligibility and the program's coverage rules.

If you are a more distant relative or family friend, § 41-41-3(2) allows an adult who has shown "special care and concern" for the child to consent when none of the people listed in subsection (1) is reasonably available.

Our Mississippi School and Medical Consent Guide covers both sides — the insurance enrollment process and the medical consent authority — so you can handle the Medicaid application and the doctor's appointment with equal confidence.

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