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Mississippi Health Insurance

Are you looking for Mississippi health insurance quotes? This is the best site to get all the information you need on health insurance quotes from providers in Mississippi. We will help you get the best plan for you and your family. Enter your Mississippi zip code to start your search and get more details about Mississippi health insurance plans in your area.

Facts and Figures

  • Place in State Health Report Card 50th
  • Insured 2,351,104
  • Uninsured 510,300
  • Insurance Carriers 5
  • Number of Primary Care Physicians 3480
  • Number of Hospitals 97
  • Average Cost of Health Insurance* $749

Breakdown of Insureds

  • Employer-sponsored health insurance 51%
  • Private plans 5%
  • Medicaid 27%
  • Medicare 16%
  • Others 1%

State Health Report Card

Smoking has decreased minimally in the last ten years from 23.5 percent to 22.9 percent of the adult population; 506,000 people still smoke in Mississippi. In the past year, the rate of uninsured population increased from 17.7 percent to 19.2 percent. In the past five years, obesity increased from 30.9 percent to 34.5 percent of the adult population, with 763,000 obese adults in the state. In the past five years, diabetes increased from 9.8 percent to 12.4 percent of the adult population; there are now 274,000 individuals with diabetes in the state. In the past ten years, the violent crime rate decreased from 349 to 270 offenses per 100,000 population. In the past ten years, the percentage of children in poverty increased from 16.4 percent to 33.7 percent of persons under age 18.

Mississippi Health Insurance Laws and Regulations

Mississippi health insurance plans are required to be sold with a guaranteed renewability clause. With this clause, subscribers can renew their policies as many times they want provided they keep up with the premiums. Insurers in the state are prohibited from cancelling coverage based on the subscriber’s health condition. According to state laws, newborns or newly adopted children are automatically covered under a parent’s insurance plan for up to 31 days as long as that plan covers dependents. In addition, coverage for handicapped dependents can extend beyond the normal eligible age. Mississippi health insurance plans can exclude coverage for a pre-existing condition for up to 12 months; in some cases this exclusion can be permanent. Mississippi health insurance companies can deny coverage to individuals based on age, health, and other related factors. Premium rates of existing policies can also go up according to changes in risk factors. Small businesses (with 2 to 50 employees) in Mississippi can purchase group health insurance currently available to other small businesses in the state. Group health insurance must meet certain requirements such as having a minimum number of participants and minimum employer contribution. Plans may be cancelled if these requirements are not met. Mississippi health insurance quotes for group coverage can vary according to the risk factors of its members. Generally, companies set their prices on the group members’ age, sex, health, and demographic background. However, insurers cannot cancel coverage based on any member’s health condition. Self-employed individuals have no access to group health insurance. Instead, they can purchase individual plans and have a portion of their premiums deducted from their tax liability.

Heath Care Reform

With the new health care law, children under the age of 26 can choose to stay under their parent’s Mississippi health insurance as long as they are not offered an employer-based health insurance. This provision enabled 2.5 million young adults to have insurance nationwide. In Mississippi, 33,909 young adults have insurance coverage through this provision as of June 2011. With the new health care law, more than 34,500 Medicare policyholders in Mississippi received a $250 rebate check to help with prescription drug costs when they fell into the Medicare gap in 2010. In 2011, 33,510 Medicare plan holders were given a 50% discount on brand-name prescription drugs covered by their plan when they hit the donut hole. An average of $603 per person or a total of $20,190,640 was saved in Mississippi. The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan is now available for previously uninsured individuals without health coverage because of a pre-existing condition. This plan is available to U.S. citizens or legal residents with a pre-existing condition and have been uninsured for at least 6 months. In 2011, 163 individuals in Mississippi have benefited from this new law. When looking at Mississippi health insurance quotes, applicants are assured that at least 80 percent of the price will go directly to health care services and other related improvements. A rebate or premium discount shall be provided if the minimum is not met. All private policyholders in Mississippi will get greater value for their premium payments because of this 80/20 rule. Preventive care services like immunizations, colonoscopies, mammograms, or annual wellness doctor visits must be included in all Mississippi health insurance with no deductibles or co-pays. In 2011, more than 117,800 million Medicare subscribers and more than 240,000 individuals with private policies received such services in Mississippi. Under the new law, insurance companies are no longer allowed to impose an annual dollar limit – a cap on the yearly spending for your benefits, or a lifetime dollar limit – a lifetime cap for spending for your covered benefits. This law frees chronically ill individuals like cancer patients from worrying about getting further treatment because of such limitations. In 2011, more than 844,000 residents in Mississippi have benefited from this law. If insurance companies want to raise their premium rates by ten percent or more, they are required by federal law to publicly announce and justify their actions. To guard against such unreasonable increases, the state of Mississippi received a total of $4.8 million. All fifty states receive increases in funding for community health centers under the Affordable Care Act. This will help construct new health centers, provide medical services to more patients, improve preventive and primary health care services, and fund infrastructure projects. In Mississippi, 175 community health centers received a total of $26.6 million to fund these improvements. In 2010, the Affordable Care Act created the Prevention and Public Health Fund. This new fund was created for wellness promotion, disease prevention, and protection against public health emergencies. Mississippi has already received a total of $5.2 million to support its policies, programs, and communities to help its residents lead healthier lives.

State Government Insurance Programs Offered

Pre- existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) Run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

866-717-5826 This is a temporary high-risk pool program created in accordance with the Health Care Reform Law and is operated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This program provides coverage for those with pre-existing conditions who have a hard time finding private coverage. Coverage includes a wide range of benefits which includes hospital care, primary care, specialty care, and prescription drugs. Eligibility: 1. Must be a U.S. resident living in Mississippi. 2. Must be uninsured for at least six months. 3. Must have a qualified pre-existing health condition.

Medicaid

601-359-6050 800-421-2408 Medicaid offers coverage to low-income individuals and families who cannot pay for their medical care. Applicants for this program should meet financial and other eligibility requirements. Services covered include: hospital care, office visits, outpatient and home health services, hospice services, dialysis services, chiropractic services, non-emergency transportation services, durable medical equipment and medical supplies, prescription drugs, and more. Eligibility: 1. Must be U.S. citizens or legal residents living in Mississippi. 2. Must not exceed income limits: Pregnant women and infants 0-1: 185% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Children aged 1-5: 133% of the FPL. Children aged 6-18: 100% of the FPL. Parents and caretakers with children 18 and below: 44% of the FPL. Aged, blind, or disabled: Singles: 80% of the FPL; assets not exceeding $4,000. Couples: 87% of the FPL; assets not exceeding $6,000.

Mississippi CHIP Children’s Health Insurance Plan

877-543-7669 601-359-6050 800-421-2408 Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) offers health coverage to qualified children who belong to uninsured or underinsured familes. Services include: doctor’s visits, health screenings, preventive health care, inpatient and outpatient hospital care, prescription medications, lab services, dental care, eyeglasses and hearing aids, and mental health services. In order to qualify a child must be meet age, household income, and insurance status requirements.

Women-Infant-Children (WIC)

601-991-6000 Women-Infant-Children is funded by the federal government and offers nutrition program for women, infants, and children. Benefits include health screening, medical history, body measurement, nutrition assessment and education, breast feeding support and education, hemoglobin check, and vouchers for food supplements. Eligibility: 1. Must be a resident of Mississippi. 2. Must have nutritional or medical risk. 3. Must be pregnant or postpartum women and children not more than 5 years. 4. Must not exceed income limits of 185% of the FPL.

Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention

601-576-7466 800-721-7222 The Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program is designed to keep treatment costs down and improve survival rates by identifying breast and cervical cancer in earlier stages. Services covered include cancer screening and follow-up care. Treatment is also included if necessary. Women aged 40 to 64 years: Breast and cervical cancer screening and follow-up for abnormalities. Women aged 18 to 39 years: Can avail of the benefits if identified with breast or cervical abnormality. Eligibility: 1. Must be living in Mississippi. 2. Must be uninsured or underinsured. 2. Income must not exceed 250% of the FPL.

Medicare

www.medicare.gov 800-633-4227 Medicare is administered by the federal government and provides health insurance coverage to Americans aged 65 and above or those younger than 65 but have a disability or end-stage renal disease. Coverage has four parts: Part A: provides inpatient care in hospitals and rehabilitative centers. Part B: provides doctor and some preventive services and outpatient care. Part C: provides Medicare benefits through Medicare Advantage. Part D: provides prescription drug coverage. Eligibility: 1. Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent U.S. resident. 2. Must be 65 years or older, with you or your spouse having worked in a Medicare-covered employment for at least ten years; or have a qualified disability or end-stage renal disease, regardless of age.

VA Medical Benefits Package

877-222-8387 The Veteran Affairs (VA) Medical Benefits provides standard health benefits plan to veterans enrolled in the program. Benefits are portable and can be accessed anywhere in the VA system. Benefits include preventive and primary care, and a full range of outpatient and inpatient services. Eligibility 1. Must have veteran status.
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