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MISSISSIPPI DIVISION OF MEDICAID Eligibility Policy and Procedures Manual CHAPTER 102 – Non-Financial Requirements Page |37 Effective Date: July 2025 non-citizens. While regarded to have lawful permanent resident status, they are not in the LPR classification. As such, they are not subject to a 5-year waiting period. (11) CITIZENS OF THE FREELY ASSOCIATED (COFA) STATES OF MICRONESIA, REPUBLIC OF MARSHALL ISLANDS AND REPUBLIC OF PALAU -under Public Law 116-260, Division CC, Title II, Section 208, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. Effective December 27, 2020, COFA migrants are qualified non-citizens without a 5-year waiting period. 102.05.02 GRANDFATHERED ALIENS Although not classifications of aliens, the following are groups of grandfathered aliens who are potentially eligible for benefits based on their arrival date into the U.S. 1. Effective 8/22/1996, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) limited alien eligibility for Medicaid and other federal programs. Upon implementation, Mississippi elected to “grandfather” in aliens who were receiving and eligible for Medicaid on 08/22/1996. As a result, the grandfathered alien, who is lawfully residing in the U. S., has the right to have his eligibility continue under the alien policy in effect prior to 8/22/1996. He also retains grandfathered rights if benefits are terminated, and eligibility is later reestablished. 2. Aliens who entered the U.S. prior to 08/22/1996 and obtained qualified status prior to that date are considered to be a “qualified alien” under current policy and can qualify if otherwise eligible. 3. Aliens continuously present in the U.S. A qualified alien who entered the U.S. prior to 08/22/1996 and obtained qualified status on or after that date must have remained “continuously present” in the U. S. from their last date of entry into the country prior to 08/22/1996 until becoming a qualified alien. “Continuously present” in the U. S. is defined as the alien had: o No single absence from the U. S. of more than 30 days and, o No total of aggregate absences of more than 90 days. The qualified alien who meets the above definition is deemed to have entered the U. S. prior to 8/22/96 and if otherwise eligible, qualifies for full Medicaid. Aliens who were not “continuously present” are considered to have entered the U.S. on or after 8/22/96 and are evaluated according to their alien status.