Updated: September 5, 2024
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Best Health InsuranceMississippiBest Health Insurance in Mississippi
Why Trust MoneyGeek? We downloaded plan data for Mississippi directly from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). MoneyGeek’s scoring methodology balances costs, claims approval and plan types to find the best providers in the state.
Plan data was updated with the CMS exchange data released in October 2023 for the 2024 enrollment period.
With a MoneyGeek score of 84 out of 100, Ambetter offers the best health insurance in Mississippi.
It has plan options with good prices and low out-of-pocket costs, and the provider doesn't say no to claims often. We evaluated 25 health insurance plans in Mississippi for this analysis, including EPO, HMO and POS plan types.
Affordable premium rates
Low out-of-pocket costs
Few claims denied
Limited diversity in plan types offered
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Mississippi is Ambetter. The provider offers nine Silver HMO plans at an average plan rate of $499 monthly. The average MOOP cost for these plans is $5,400.
Ambetter's Silver HMO plans provide a network of doctors and specialists you can see for health care services. This provider offers an average plan rate of $499, and the average maximum out-of-pocket cost for these plans is $5,400.
Ambetter has a denial rate of 15%, lower than most providers in the competition. This translates to a high probability of customer claims being covered.
MoneyGeek recommends the following Silver plans:
Ambetter, with a MoneyGeek score of 80 out of 100, offers the best health insurance in Mississippi for low maximum out-of-pocket costs. It offers the cheapest plan options and gets better-than-average scores for not denying claims.
For this analysis, 18 Gold plans were examined, including two Gold EPO plans, 14 Gold HMO plans and two Gold POS plans.
Affordable premium rates
Low out-of-pocket costs
Few claims denied
Various plan types offered
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Mississippi for low out-of-pocket costs is Ambetter. It offers seven Gold plans, known for lower out-of-pocket costs. These Gold plans are Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans. HMO plans usually require choosing a primary care provider and getting referrals for specialists.
Ambetter has an average plan rate of $631, and the average maximum out-of-pocket cost for these plans is $8,014. With a denial rate of around 15%, Ambetter has a lower denial rate than most of its competitors.
MoneyGeek recommends the following Gold and Platinum plans:
Ambetter is the best cheap provider of health insurance in Mississippi, with a MoneyGeek score of 84 out of 100. Ambetter offers more affordable plan options, has lower average out-of-pocket expenses and denies fewer claims than most providers.
We evaluated 25 Silver plans in Mississippi for this analysis. It included five Silver EPO, 18 Silver HMO and two Silver POS plans. In determining the best cheap provider, MoneyGeek placed more weight on plans with lower monthly premiums. However, plans with lower premiums typically have higher out-of-pocket costs.
Few claims denied
Low out-of-pocket maximum
Affordable premium rates
Diverse plan types available
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best cheap health insurance in Mississippi is Ambetter. This company offers a total of nine Silver plans. All of Ambetter's Silver plans in Mississippi are HMO plans. HMO plans often require staying within a network of doctors and hospitals. Ambetter has an average plan rate of $512. The average maximum out-of-pocket cost for these plans is $7,711.
Ambetter has a denial rate of 15%, which is lower than most competitors. MoneyGeek recommends the following cheap Silver plans:
The best health insurance in Mississippi for those with low income is Ambetter, scoring 84 out of 100. Ambetter has rates that are lower than average, minimal out-of-pocket costs and deny fewer claims than other providers.
In Mississippi, we looked at five Silver EPO plans, 18 Silver HMO plans and two Silver POS plans.
We focused on plans with low monthly premiums, including cost-sharing reductions, to find the best option for low-income individuals. Cost-sharing reductions mean you pay less when you go to the doctor or have other health costs if your income is below a certain amount. Regular Silver plans pay for about 70% of your medical costs, but with cost-sharing reductions, you can get even more of your expenses covered. It works like this:
These percentages can change based on how many people live in your house.
Low premium rates
Low out-of-pocket costs
Rarely denies claims
Multiple plan types available
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Mississippi for those with low income is Ambetter. The provider offers cost-effective plans for people who make less than 250% of the federal poverty level. Ambetter has nine Silver CSR plans with an average cost of $512 per month. The average maximum out-of-pocket cost for these plans is $6556.
Ambetter does not offer PPO or POS plans, but EPO plans such as these usually have lower monthly payments. The company's denial rate is 15%, which means it approves claims more frequently than its competitors.
Plan Recommendations
Ambetter's top-rated plan offers lower out-of-pocket expenses for the same premium for people in different income brackets. Here are some of the lower overall out-of-pocket costs based on income levels:
With a MoneyGeek score of 93 out of 100, Vantage Health Plan provides the best health insurance in Mississippi for young adults. It offers plans with lower costs, low out-of-pocket expenses and better-than-average claim approval rates.
For this review, we looked at two Bronze plans, 20 Expanded Bronze plans and no Catastrophic plans in Mississippi. Catastrophic plans are only available for people under 30 years old.
Outstanding premium affordability
Excellent low out-of-pocket costs
Fewer denied claims
Diverse plan options available
Vantage Health Plan stands out for Mississippi's young adults looking for health insurance. This company has four Expanded Bronze plans and one Catastrophic plan. These options are suitable for young people who generally need less medical care.
It provides POS plans, which typically allow more flexibility with out-of-network coverage than other types of insurance. This insurer offers an average plan rate of $292, and the average maximum out-of-pocket cost for these plans is $8,550.
Compared to its competitors, Vantage Health Plan has an average claims denial rate (17%).
MoneyGeek recommends the following plans for young adults:
Generally, health insurance companies offer many plan types. These include HMO, EPO, PPO and POS. The best providers for all plan types available in Mississippi are:
MoneyGeek's recommendations include only Silver plans. Silver plans are good for balancing how much you pay each month and how much you pay when you use health care. These plans work well for people who go to the doctor or need medical care more often.
Mississippi has varying numbers of Silver plans. Five Silver EPO plans, 18 Silver HMO plans and two Silver POS plans are available.
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Mississippi for Silver EPO plans is Cigna. Cigna offers five Silver EPO plans. It has an average plan rate of $498, and the average maximum out-of-pocket cost for these plans is $9,300. The provider has a denial rate of 19%, which means it denies fewer claims than average.
Silver EPO plans have both good and not-so-good points. These plans are popular, ranking third for common plan types. You don't always need a referral to see a specialist. But, you need to use doctors in the network unless there is an emergency. This rule can limit your choices, but it can also be good, as with HMO plans.
We suggest the following Silver EPO plans from Cigna:
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Mississippi for Silver POS plans is Vantage Health Plan. It offers an average plan rate of $509, and the average maximum out-of-pocket cost for these plans is $8,750. The provider denies around 17% of claims, which is the average.
Silver POS plans have benefits and drawbacks. You can see doctors in or out of the network, though you pay more to see out-of-network doctors. These plans may be rare but can be good if you want the option to choose any doctor and still save money with in-network services.
We suggest the following Silver POS plans from Vantage Health Plan:
In Mississippi, MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance for Silver HMO plans is Ambetter. It offers an average plan rate of $512, and the average maximum out-of-pocket cost for these plans is $7,711. The provider's denial rate is less than 1%, which translates to fewer claims denied than most others in the competition.
Silver HMO plans can benefit people who want a lower monthly payment. These plan types are pretty common and can cost less than other plan types. However, you must see doctors in Ambetter's network, and if you need to see a specialist, you'll need a referral from your primary doctor.
We suggest the following Silver HMO plans from Ambetter:
National General Accident & Health offers the best short-term health insurance in Mississippi. The company earned a MoneyGeek score of 95 out of 100. Short-term health insurance plans do not provide the same level of protection as plans that comply with the Affordable Care Act (ACA); they do not offer essential health benefits.
National General Accident and Health stands out because it offers a wide range of plan options to accommodate various health care demands. The company offers plans for high-risk patients with modest co-insurance and out-of-pocket expenses. Plans can have durations of three months to three years and offer several options for cost-sharing and prescription drug coverage.
Finding the best health insurance for you in Mississippi can be a daunting task. There are many factors to consider when shopping for health insurance, such as your health care needs, your budget, the types of services offered and the network of providers available. To find the best health plan, it's important to understand your own needs and preferences.
Understand when a health insurance plan will cover you
Health insurance can pay for your doctor visits. If the doctor you visited is in your network, you pay less because your health insurance plan has a deal with that doctor. If the doctor is outside your network, you have to pay more. Some plans in Mississippi let you see doctors outside your network but at a higher cost. Other plans don't pay for those at all.
In Mississippi, there are five EPO, two POS and 18 HMO plans available.
Weigh the cost of premiums vs. the cost of care
When you look for health insurance, think about how much you can pay each month and how much you might pay for medical-related stuff during the year. Some plans may have smaller monthly payments, but if you get sick, you could pay more out of pocket before your plan helps you. If you go to the doctor often, a plan with a higher monthly cost but a lower out-of-pocket limit can help save you money over time.
For example, in Mississippi, one Silver plan from Ambetter has the lowest out-of-pocket limit of $5,400. This plan costs $499 each month. This monthly premium is costlier than some other Silver plans from the same company, but the out-of-pocket limit is less than plans with lower monthly costs. If a plan like this also gets you good medical care, it can be a good choice for people who need to see the doctor often.
If you are aged 65 or older or have a qualifying medical disability, you may be eligible for Medicare. This is a government-funded program that offers medical coverage at affordable prices.
Medicare has the following parts:
MoneyGeek also provided resources to help you find the best Medicare Advantage and the best Medicare Supplement plans in Mississippi.
Another federal program that helps those with lower incomes is Medicaid. This service is available to those who meet certain requirements, such as parents or caretakers of children, pregnant women, children with disabilities living at home, working adults or elderly with disabilities and former or current individuals with disabilities who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Finding an ideal health insurance plan can be complicated due to concerns about price and availability. MoneyGeek answers some frequently asked questions to help you research options.
The best health insurance in Mississippi for 2024 is provided by Ambetter. However, the best choice for you will depend on your unique circumstances and needs.
A plan with reasonable prices and sufficient coverage is what you should be looking for. Despite offering reduced prices, some plans and companies might only offer a few services that may not suit all your medical needs. Your unique needs will determine what the best health insurance plan for you is.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.
