Mississippi’s Family Planning Waiver (FPW) program covers birth control, STI screening and treatment, annual exams, lab work, and contraceptive counseling at no cost to eligible participants. The program allows up to four visits per year and is open to individuals ages 13 to 44 with household incomes up to 194% of the federal poverty level.
Who Qualifies for the Program
To be eligible for Mississippi’s Family Planning Waiver, you must be between 13 and 44 years old and have a household income at or below 194% of the federal poverty level. As of March 2026, that translates to $2,648 per month for a single person, $3,589 for a household of two, and $4,531 for a household of three. Each additional family member adds roughly $942 to the threshold. You can apply online at access.ms.gov or submit a paper application form available through the Mississippi Division of Medicaid, including a Spanish-language version.
This waiver is specifically for family planning. It does not function like full Medicaid coverage, so it won’t pay for general doctor visits, hospitalizations, or other medical care outside of reproductive health services.
Covered Services and Visits
The program covers four visits per calendar year: one annual exam plus up to three follow-up visits. Your initial visit includes a complete physical examination with a clinical breast exam and cervical cancer screening based on national guidelines. Annual visits in following years cover the same ground.
Beyond the exam itself, covered services include:
- Birth control methods: Oral contraceptives (the pill), injectable contraceptives (the shot), contraceptive patches, and self-inserted products like vaginal rings
- Birth control counseling and education
- STI/STD and HIV/AIDS screening
- Medications to treat diagnosed STIs/STDs
- Lab work: Blood count, Pap smear, pregnancy test as needed, and STI screenings
You can fill prescriptions for covered contraceptives at any participating Medicaid pharmacy in the state.
Contraceptive Methods in Detail
The waiver’s drug list covers four main categories of prescription contraceptives: oral pills, patches, injectables, and self-inserted products like vaginal rings. These are dispensed through point-of-sale at local pharmacies, meaning you pick them up the same way you would any other prescription.
One thing worth noting: the publicly posted drug list for the waiver does not explicitly name long-acting reversible contraceptives like IUDs or implants as pharmacy-dispensed items. These devices are typically placed in a clinic rather than picked up at a pharmacy, so they may be handled differently. If you’re interested in an IUD or implant, ask your provider directly whether it’s covered under your waiver benefits, as these are often billed as office procedures rather than pharmacy prescriptions.
Lab Tests and STI Screening
During your initial and annual visits, several lab tests are required as part of the exam. These include a blood count, a Pap smear following nationally recommended cervical cancer screening guidelines, STI/STD and HIV/AIDS screenings, and a pregnancy test when indicated. STI screenings and any medications needed to treat a diagnosed infection are fully covered under the waiver.
The program does not cover broader cancer screenings beyond the Pap smear. If your provider identifies a concern that requires further cancer testing or diagnostic workup, that would fall outside the waiver’s scope.
Sterilization Coverage
Mississippi Medicaid does cover permanent sterilization procedures (tubal ligation or vasectomy), but with strict requirements. You must be at least 21 years old at the time you sign the consent form, and you must be mentally competent and voluntarily requesting the procedure.
There is a mandatory 30-day waiting period between signing the consent form and the date of the procedure. The consent form expires after 180 days, so the surgery must happen within that window. The only exceptions to the 30-day wait are premature delivery or emergency abdominal surgery, and even then, at least 72 hours must pass after signing consent. These federal rules apply across all state Medicaid programs and exist to protect against coerced sterilization.
What the Waiver Does Not Cover
The Family Planning Waiver is narrow by design. It covers reproductive health services and nothing else. Services explicitly excluded include general primary care, cancer screenings other than Pap smears, prenatal or pregnancy care, and hospitalization. If you become pregnant while enrolled, you would need to apply for pregnancy-related Medicaid coverage separately.
On that note, Mississippi has historically provided pregnancy-related Medicaid for only 60 days after delivery. Legislation to extend that to 12 months postpartum (as dozens of other states have done) was introduced in 2023 but had not been enacted as of the most recent federal tracking. If you’re pregnant or recently gave birth, check directly with the Mississippi Division of Medicaid for the most current postpartum coverage timeline, as this policy landscape is actively shifting.
How to Apply
You can apply online through Mississippi’s ACCESS portal at access.ms.gov. Paper application forms are also available through the Division of Medicaid’s website in both English and Spanish. You’ll need to provide proof of income and residency as part of the application. Once approved, you can begin scheduling your covered visits with any Medicaid-enrolled provider who offers family planning services.