Mississippi has an uninsured rate of 12.9% as of 2019, according to a report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). That translates to just over 370,000 people without health insurance, and it’s much higher than the national average (8.4%) of uninsured. When KFF looked at the uninsured tally again in 2021, they found that of the people still without health insurance in Mississippi, about 200,000 of them qualified for marketplace health insurance.
Marketplace coverage is what’s available under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). It’s the kind of health plan that covers 10 essential health benefits, like preventive care and prescription drugs, and includes protections for people with pre-existing conditions.
The ACA also created tax credits, also known as premium subsidies, to help more people afford monthly premiums for health insurance. These tax credits are available to anyone earning between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level.
When KFF looked at marketplace-eligible people in Mississippi without coverage in 2021, they estimated that 21% of them could get a bronze plan for free.
In a separate report, Kaiser Family Foundation calculated average premiums across the different metal tiers. Lowest cost bronze plans averaged to $407 in Mississippi for 2021. Lowest cost silver plans ($458) and gold ($543) cost more but typically cover a higher percentage of your medical bills.
These KFF averages don’t include any tax credits.
Based on data from our own marketplace, we estimate that a 40-year-old living in Tunica, MS, who makes $37,000 a year could find a bronze plan for just under $259 a month. That estimate does include a tax credit.
Of course, cost and plan options vary based on where you live. In 2021, there are at least two insurers in Mississippi offering marketplace (ACA-compliant) health plans. These include Centene and Molina.
Sources
Kaiser Family Foundation, “Health Insurance Coverage of the Total Population”
Kaiser Family Foundation, “Marketplace Eligibility Among the Uninsured: Implications for a Broadened Enrollment Period and ACA Outreach” (January 27, 2021)
Kaiser Family Foundation, “Average Marketplace Premiums by Metal Tier, 2018-2021”
Kaiser Family Foundation, “Insurer Participation on the ACA Marketplaces, 2014-2021” (November 23, 2020)