Moving to or from Missouri with Medicaid
Moving TO Missouri
MO HealthNet (Missouri's Medicaid program) does not accept transferred cases from other states: every new Missouri resident applies fresh through Missouri Department of Social Services. There is no waiting period tied to how recently you arrived — eligibility is decided on Missouri's own income and household rules from the day you become a resident.
Leaving Missouri
Leaving Missouri ends your MO HealthNet (Missouri's Medicaid program) case — no state will take it over. Close the case with Missouri Department of Social Services effective your move month, then apply in your destination state immediately after arriving.
Official agency: Missouri Department of Social Services ↗ (application page)
Missouri Medicaid at a glance
| Program name | MO HealthNet |
|---|---|
| ACA Medicaid expansion | Yes — adults covered on income |
| Adult income limit | 138% of the federal poverty level |
| Processing | up to 45 days |
Common questions
Who runs Medicaid in Missouri?
Missouri Department of Social Services, which runs the program as MO HealthNet. The official page and application link are cited below — always act through them.
Does Missouri make new residents wait for Medicaid?
No state may impose a residency waiting period for Medicaid. You apply as soon as you live in Missouri; eligibility is decided on Missouri's own rules.
Where do I report that I'm leaving Missouri?
Contact Missouri Department of Social Services (official link below) to report the move and close your case effective your move month.
Every move involving Missouri
From Missouri to…
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
To Missouri from…
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Official sources
Every fact above was checked against these official pages. Last verified.
- Missouri DSS — MO HealthNet (Healthcare) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Missouri DSS — Apply for MO HealthNet — accessed 2026-08-08