Are you ready to know the Health Insurance Mississippi? Then keep reading this article.
There are health insurance options in Mississippi. If offered, you can opt into your employer’s health care plan purchase a plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace, enroll in Medicaid or Medicare, or purchase coverage directly from an insurer.
This guide details your Mississippi health insurance options.
READ MORE: Affordable Mississippi Health Insurance
How To Enroll for Mississippi Individual and Family Insurance?
Table of Contents
The health insurance enrollment process is similar for individuals and families. For families, it is good to evaluate the individual plans for each family member are a better choice than having a single policy.
The things to consider include:
- Each person’s medical needs, age and income.
- Plan types.
- Coverage levels.
Health Insurance Mississippi for Individuals
Individual insurance can turn out to be cheaper if you and your spouse or other family member have wide different medical needs.
Moreover, with sound health, you can select a policy with low monthly premiums at the expense of high annual deductibles.
Maybe you have a chronic condition or disability, then the policy with more comprehensive benefits and high premiums buy low annual deductibles will be a better choice.
There are three types of insurance plans that you can select which include:
1. Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
HMO offer plans to network of doctors that you can visit. Also, you’ll need to have a referral whenever you need to see the specialist.
2. Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
PPO have plans to give you more freedom to see your doctor or specialist when you want but you’re required to pay high premiums for this freedom.
3. Point of Service (POS)
POS plan to rest in the middle because they offer a network of doctors you can receive care from at a discount fee, but you’re able to see doctors outside the network as long you have sufficient for the high copayment.
Health Insurance Mississippi for Families
When you consider shopping for family insurance plans, you need to know the health needs of each of your family members.
Moreover, do you or your spouse suffer from a chronic illness that demands a high level of medical expense? Does one of your children have special health needs?
It’s essential to balance individual needs to ensure each person that has adequate coverage to minimize premiums, copays and deductibles. Consider separate policies based on the coverage needs.
Also, evaluate the pros and cons of the different loan plan types available in Mississippi. An HMO plan can offer low deductibles but you have to use the insurer’s health provider network and get referrals for specialists.
Maybe some in your family need specialist care not available within the network, the PPO plan can be a better option. With the PPO network, access to providers is nationwide, flexible and doesn’t require referrals.
READ MORE: Best Cheap Health Insurance in Mississippi (2023)
Can I Get Cheap Health Insurance in Mississippi?
Mississippi Medicaid provides medical insurance based on your medical needs and income. Families with children may qualify for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Medicaid In Mississippi
Medicaid in Mississippi helps you pay for medical services if you have low income and belong to at least one of the following categories:
- Pregnant women
- Blind individuals.
- Disabled individuals.
- Responsible for the child aged 18 or young.
- Seniors aged 65 and older.
Furthermore, to be eligible for the Medicaid program depends on the annual household income and your family size.
In the year 2023, Mississippi’s annual income links before taxes are $18,075 for a single person and $24,353 for a couple. You can be eligible for Medicaid in Mississippi if you’re a state resident and a United States citizen or a legal and permanent resident.
Also, you can check your eligibility and apply for Medicaid through the Mississippi Division of Medicaid or HealthCare.gov. You can also apply in person at one of the regional offices located throughout the state.
Medicaid gives coverage for essential services that include:
- Nursing care.
- Hospital care.
- Doctors’ visits.
- Preventive care.
- Medical Transportation.
CHIP
The CHIP program covers children 19 and younger who are ineligible for Medicaid and have no health insurance. Moreover, eligibility is based on family income, which may not exceed 209% of the federal poverty level.
Disabled Children and Working Disabled
Disabled children living at home who would otherwise need hospitalization or placement in a long-term care facility are covered, and provision care costs are low than the equivalent cost of full-time institutional care.
Additionally, the child’s yearly income must be below $2,000, and they can’t be medically stable. Suppose you’re disabled working person that meets the Social Security definition of disability and works more than 40 hours per month.
In that case, you can be covered by Medicaid provided your household meets certain income requirements. However, earned income must not also exceed 250% of the federal poverty level (FPL), and unearned income can’t exceed 135%.
Conclusion
It is nice that you know the health insurance in Mississippi because they are different insurance plans for individuals and families, so you select anyone that suits you based on your income.