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MISSISSIPPI DIVISION OF MEDICAID Eligibility Policy and Procedures Manual CHAPTER 102 – Non-Financial Requirements Page |24 Effective Date: July 2025 data available from an electronic data source and the individual’s declaration of citizenship or immigration status that must be resolved. NOTE: If an applicant does not declare to be a citizen or to be in a qualified immigration status, the reasonable opportunity period does not apply. Reasonable Opportunity Process • The reasonable opportunity period applies when all other information necessary to establish eligibility is available and the individual is otherwise eligible. If an applicant is ineligible on any other factor of eligibility, such as excess income or disability not established, the application should be denied for the reason other than citizenship/alien status. • If the applicant declaring to be a citizen or qualified alien is otherwise eligible pending a determination of U.S. citizenship or qualified alien status, Medicaid or CHIP benefits may not be delayed or denied. • The otherwise eligible applicant will be enrolled while the process to verify citizenship or qualified alien status continues. This provision includes delays experienced by the applicant in obtaining documents and/or in the SAVE process when a response is not returned immediately, additional documentation is requested, or documents must be submitted to Homeland Security. The Reasonable Opportunity Period is implemented in the system as follows: 1. Medicaid benefits provided during the reasonable opportunity period begin the first day of application month (or the month after application for CHIP) and run 90 days plus 5 days mailing time from the date of the approval notice. The 95-day period does not include approval for any retroactive month(s). If eligible, retro eligibility is authorized after citizenship/identity is verified. 2. MEDS provides for an approval by selecting the “90-Day Reasonable Opportunity Period” selection in the drop-down box for citizenship verification. An approval notice will be issued with language explaining the approval is temporary pending further verification. o The worker must issue a 307, Request for Information, at the same time the approval notice is issued informing the applicant of the information needed to establish citizenship and/or identity or qualified alien status with a due date that is 90 days plus 5 days mailing from the date of the approval notice. A worker alert must be set for follow-up. The 90-Day Reasonable Opportunity Aging