Home Care in Mississippi

Genworth’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey reveals that Mississippi seniors pay an average of $3,813 per month for home care. This service offers help with day-to-day tasks, such as personal care, housekeeping and errands. For seniors who need help with light medical tasks, home health care also costs an average of $3,813 in the state.

At $4,957 per month, the national average cost of home care is about 30% higher than in Mississippi. Home health care costs are about 35% higher at $5,148 per month. Average prices for home care and home health care services are also higher in Tennessee at $4,576, while in Arkansas, rates average $4,185 and $4,195, respectively. In Alabama, seniors pay the same for home care as their counterparts in Mississippi, while home health care services cost an average of $3,851 per month. Louisiana offers slightly lower costs at $3,623 for home care and $3,718 for home health care.

In Mississippi, as in the rest of the country, the type of care you need may affect your costs. Both home care and home health care cost an average of $3,813 per month. Another option that could help you stay at home, community-based adult day care, comes in at just $1,408. Seniors who decide to move to an assisted living facility pay an average of $3,500, while care in a nursing home costs about twice as much at $7,118 per month.

Mississippi Medicaid offers coverage for medically necessary home health care services for eligible members through the State Plan. This benefit is capped at 36 home health visits per fiscal year.

Long-term home health services may be available through the state’s Elderly and Disabled Waiver. This waiver also offers coverage for other services and supports that can help seniors age in place, including home-delivered meals, in-home respite services and assistance with personal care.

Mississippi’s Elderly and Disabled Waiver makes it possible for adults who need nursing home level care to remain in their homes. The program covers a number of services that could help you age in place, including home care and home health care.

Elderly and Disabled Waiver

The Elderly and Disabled Waiver is designed to help Medicaid members get the care they need at home, rather than in a nursing facility. The waiver offers coverage for several services that could help seniors age in place, including:

In Mississippi, seniors may be eligible for Medicaid through the Aged, Blind or Disabled pathway. Seniors who currently receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments are automatically eligible for Mississippi Medicaid.

Income limits for Mississippi Medicaid change each year based on current Social Security Administration guidelines. In 2022, a single senior can earn up to $841 per month ($10,092 per year), while couples may earn up to $1,261 per month ($15,132 per year). The asset limit is $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple.

Seniors can apply for Aged, Blind and Disabled Medicaid by filling out an application form. If you want an application mailed to you, call the Office of Eligibility at (800) 421-2408. Mail or fax the completed application form to your Medicaid regional office.

As part of the application process for Aged, Blind and Disabled Medicaid, the state may require an in-person interview. If necessary, this takes place at your local regional office.

What Information You Will Need

The state requires official verification of an applicant’s income and assets. Depending on your financial situation, the documentation you may need to provide includes:

• Paycheck stubs or wage printouts
• Tax returns
• Bank statements
• Annuity contracts
• Property deeds
• Copies of promissory notes
• Verification of vehicle ownership

How to Get Help Applying for Medicaid

Medicaid is a complex program, and there are many resources that can help you understand your options, complete your application or even appeal a Medicaid denial. In the table below, we’ve collected some helpful resources that offer assistance to Mississippi seniors.

Medicare doesn’t pay for non-medical home care, but it can cover the cost of the medical version of home care, called “Home Healthcare” in some situations. In order to be eligible, you need to be homebound and have a referral from your doctor for the specific type of medical care that is needed. There are also other restrictions that apply.

Below is an overview of some of the services typically covered by Medicare for those who are eligible:

• Physical Therapy: Physical therapy is used to help patients recover from injuries (broken bones, knee injuries, etc.), and to treat ongoing conditions such as arthritis. Additionally, physical therapy is often provided in the home to help seniors recover from surgeries and procedures, such as a knee or hip replacement.
• Nursing Care: Licensed nurses can provide a number of medical services (such as wound care, changing feeding tubes, etc.) for those who need medical care, but don’t need to stay in a hospital full-time.
• Occupational Therapy: Occupational therapy is designed to help seniors regain or maintain the ability to accomplish normal, daily tasks, such as bathing, dressing, eating, etc., and providers can travel to your home if needed.
• Speech Therapy: Seniors can lose the ability to adequately communicate for many reasons, and speech therapists are there to help seniors regain the ability to communicate using a variety of means. Additionally, speech therapists help to keep seniors independent by modifying diets and teaching special techniques to swallow safely.

As mentioned above, home care is distinctly different from home healthcare, but there is some overlap – so while Medicare doesn’t cover non-medical home care, there are personal care services that may be covered in special circumstances – such as an occupational therapist helping with eating or dressing.

Read our guide to Medicare and Home Care Coverage for more information.

While the above programs can be a great way to make home care affordable for many people, they are not the right solution for everyone. Thankfully, there are other ways to make home care more affordable for you and your family. For more information about your other options, read our section on Other Ways to Pay for this guide.

Many government departments and nonprofit organizations are committed to helping Mississippi seniors age in place. In the chart below, you’ll find an assortment of free resources that could help you live comfortably in your home for as long as possible. These include meal programs, bill payment assistance and home repair grants.

In Mississippi, as in all 50 states, Medicare and Medicaid certified-providers are subject to a federal COVID-19 vaccination mandate issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Employees of home health agencies that participate in Medicare and/or Medicaid programs are required to comply with the COVID-19 vaccination mandate, unless they’ve been granted an exemption. However, Medicaid home care providers aren’t covered by this mandate, per the CMS.

The state of Mississippi doesn’t have a vaccination mandate for home care or home health care workers. These requirements are current as of April 2022. For up-to-date information, contact your local Area Agency on Aging.

Seniors who are concerned about possible COVID-19 exposures can contact home care agencies directly for details about their infection control policies, which may include recommendations for vaccination, personal protective equipment and routine testing.

The Mississippi Department of Health is responsible for regulating health facilities throughout the state, which includes home health agencies but not nonmedical home care providers. Home care providers that participate in the Elderly and Disabled Waiver are required to follow the Mississippi Division of Medicaid’s rules for home and community-based services.

Whether you are looking for yourself or a loved one, finding a quality home care provider can be a stressful process. To help you overcome this challenge, we’ve created a helpful checklist below that can help guide you through the process of both determining your needs, and finding a home care agency that will be the best fit for you and your family.

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