For individual and family health insurance, Mississippi residents use the federal Marketplace at HealthCare.gov. Open Enrollment for 2027 runs Nov 1, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027 (enroll by Dec 15 for Jan 1 coverage). Mississippi has not expanded Medicaid, so Marketplace subsidies start at 100% of the poverty level, and adults below that can fall into a coverage gap.
Updated for the 2027 plan year (October 2026). Reviewed by a licensed agent.
- Mississippi health insurance in 2027 at a glance
- How the Mississippi Marketplace works
- 2027 Open Enrollment dates
- No Medicaid expansion: the coverage gap
- Mississippi Medicaid and CHIP
- Subsidies for 2027
- Insurers for 2027: who’s in, who’s out
- Mississippi city guides
- Free help and consumer protection
- Frequently asked questions
This is our main guide to coverage in the Magnolia State. If cost is the first thing on your mind, go straight to our affordable health insurance Mississippi guide for income tables and savings steps. For local hospitals, clinics and help, see our city guides for Jackson and Tupelo.
Health insurance Mississippi: 2027 at a glance
Mississippi uses the federal exchange, has not expanded Medicaid, and will have fewer Marketplace insurers in 2027 than in 2026. Here are the programs and contacts that matter most.
| Topic | Mississippi for 2027 |
|---|---|
| Exchange | HealthCare.gov (federal Marketplace); no state-run exchange |
| Open Enrollment | Nov 1, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027; enroll by Dec 15 for Jan 1 coverage |
| Medicaid expansion | No; adults below 100% FPL may fall into the coverage gap |
| Where subsidies start | 100% FPL (up to 400% FPL) |
| Medicaid agency | Mississippi Division of Medicaid; apply via Access MS |
| Children’s coverage | Mississippi CHIP |
| 2027 insurer exits | Cigna and Molina leaving the individual market |
| State subsidy or reinsurance waiver | None; federal premium tax credits only |
| Insurance regulator | Mississippi Insurance Department, Consumer Help Line 800-562-2957 |
| In-person Navigator | Oak Hill Regional Community Development Corp. (statewide) |
Sources: HealthCare.gov dates and deadlines, the KFF coverage gap brief, the Mississippi Insurance Department and the CMS 2026–2027 Navigator awards.
How the Mississippi Marketplace works
Mississippi does not run its own exchange, so every subsidized individual plan is sold through HealthCare.gov. You can enroll on the site, by phone, with a Navigator, or with a licensed agency connected to the federal platform, and the price of the same plan is identical every way.
The Marketplace is for people without affordable job-based coverage who are not on Medicare or Medicaid: farmers and timber workers, small-business owners, truck drivers, casino and hospitality workers on the Coast, early retirees, and many working parents whose employers don’t offer family coverage. CMS counted 313,392 Mississippi plan selections during the 2026 Open Enrollment Period, down from 338,159 the year before, according to the CMS 2026 Open Enrollment public use files.
That drop followed the end of the enhanced premium tax credits on December 31, 2025, which raised what many families paid in 2026. If you dropped coverage this year because of cost, it’s worth checking again for 2027: your subsidy is recalculated from your 2027 income, and a change in household size or earnings can change your price a lot.
Every Marketplace plan covers essential benefits, and no insurer can deny you or charge more for a pre-existing condition. Learn the basics in our guide to the health insurance Marketplace.
2027 Open Enrollment dates in Mississippi
Mississippi follows the federal calendar. The date you finish enrolling decides when coverage begins.
| If you enroll… | Coverage starts |
|---|---|
| Nov 1 – Dec 15, 2026 | January 1, 2027 |
| Dec 16, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027 | February 1, 2027 |
| After Jan 15, 2027 | Only with a Special Enrollment Period |
Some websites still say Open Enrollment ends December 15. That rule was blocked by a federal court, and HealthCare.gov lists January 15, 2027 as the end date. Still, treat December 15 as your real deadline if you want coverage on New Year’s Day. Our Open Enrollment 2027 guide has the details.
To get ready, gather a few things before you start:
- Social Security numbers (or immigration documents) for everyone applying.
- Your best estimate of 2027 household income, from pay stubs, W-2s or last year’s tax return.
- Any job-based coverage offers in your household, with what the employee would pay.
- A list of your doctors, hospital and prescriptions to check against each network.
Outside Open Enrollment, a qualifying life event such as losing coverage, moving, marriage or a new baby opens a Special Enrollment Period, generally for 60 days. Tornadoes, floods and hurricanes matter here too: a FEMA-declared disaster that kept you from enrolling can also qualify.
No Medicaid expansion: the Mississippi coverage gap
Mississippi is one of the ten states that have not adopted the ACA Medicaid expansion. As a result, most adults without children or a disability can’t get Medicaid however low their income, and Marketplace subsidies don’t begin until 100% of the poverty level.
That leaves a coverage gap: adults with income below 100% FPL who earn too much for Mississippi’s limited Medicaid categories but too little for a premium tax credit. A KFF analysis of Mississippi estimated about 74,000 uninsured adults in the gap. For 2027, 100% FPL is $15,960 for one person and $33,000 for a family of four.
Tip: If your income is close to 100% FPL, estimate it carefully. Earning just above the line can make you eligible for a sizable premium tax credit. Never inflate your income to qualify; estimate what you honestly expect to earn in 2027.
Expansion has been debated at the Capitol for years. The same KFF analysis notes that in 2024 the Mississippi House passed an expansion bill, HB 1725, by a vote of 99–20, but no expansion has taken effect. Until the law changes, plan around the rules as they are for 2027.
If you are in the gap, look at community health centers, which charge on a sliding scale, and hospital financial assistance programs such as UMMC’s. These help with care and bills, but they are not health insurance.
Mississippi Medicaid and CHIP
Mississippi Medicaid still covers specific groups, including many children, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and older adults with low income. Children whose family income is too high for Medicaid may qualify for Mississippi CHIP.
The Mississippi Division of Medicaid takes applications online through the Access MS common web portal; you can also call 1-800-421-2408 to request a paper application or the Medicaid call center at 601-359-6040. Medicaid and CHIP have no enrollment window. If you apply on HealthCare.gov and look eligible, your application is passed to the state for a decision.
Honesty.AI estimates your 2027 FPL percentage, checks CHIP for the kids and shows every subsidized plan for your Mississippi ZIP code.
Subsidies for health insurance Mississippi households in 2027
The premium tax credit still exists for 2027, but it is smaller than in 2021–2025. The enhanced credits expired December 31, 2025, so the 400% FPL cliff is back and everyone pays a larger share of income.
In Mississippi, credits run from 100% to 400% FPL. Under IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-26, a household under 133% FPL is expected to pay 2.15% of income for the benchmark Silver plan, rising to 10.22% between 300% and 400% FPL (IRS premium tax credit basics). For lower-income Mississippi households up to 250% FPL, Silver plans with cost-sharing reductions are especially valuable. The 2027 out-of-pocket maximum is $12,000 for one person and $24,000 for a family.
See income tables and plan-picking tips in our affordable health insurance Mississippi guide and our national 2027 subsidies guide.
Insurers for 2027: who’s in, who’s out
Mississippi shoppers will see fewer choices for 2027. Cigna is leaving the individual market in every state where it sells, and Molina is also dropping out of Mississippi’s individual market after 2026.
The KFF 2027 insurer tracker confirms Cigna’s exit, and ACASignups’ review of the 2027 filings reports both exits. Healthinsurance.org reports that Ambetter from Magnolia Health, Oscar and UnitedHealthcare are expected to sell 2027 plans on the Mississippi Marketplace, while Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi sells individual plans only off-exchange, where premium tax credits can’t be used. Final county-by-county plan lists appear when HealthCare.gov opens window shopping, and carriers vary by county.
If you had Cigna or Molina in 2026: your plan won’t renew. Pick a new plan by December 15, 2026 to avoid a gap on January 1, and check that your doctors are in the new network.
Our checklist on how to choose a health plan helps you compare networks, drug lists and deductibles.
Mississippi city guides
Where you live changes how you shop for health insurance. Mississippi families in Jackson often weigh UMMC and Baptist, while a Tupelo family is usually thinking about North Mississippi Medical Center.
- Health insurance in Jackson, MS: UMMC, Baptist and St. Dominic networks, Jackson-Hinds and Central Mississippi health centers, state-employee families and the Hinds County Health Department.
- Health insurance in Tupelo, MS: North Mississippi Medical Center, Access Family Health Services, manufacturing and Toyota-area jobs, and tornado-season enrollment tips for Lee County.
Free help and consumer protection in Mississippi
You can get free, unbiased enrollment help anywhere in the state, and the state insurance department handles complaints about insurers.
- Navigator: CMS names Oak Hill Regional Community Development Corp. as Mississippi’s statewide Navigator for 2026–2027. Book help at localhelp.healthcare.gov.
- Mississippi Insurance Department: Consumer Help Line 800-562-2957 (601-359-2453 in the Jackson area).
- Division of Medicaid: 601-359-6040 for Medicaid and CHIP questions.
Coverage gaps are real here: Mississippi’s uninsured rate was 9.7% in 2024, based on Census ACS data compiled by America’s Health Rankings.
How Honesty helps Mississippi families
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It works for you, not the carriers, and is available 24/7 by chat, voice or text. Honesty® Insurance Services, LLC (NPN 21094885) is a private agency licensed in Mississippi and 49 states plus DC, with no government affiliation and no local office. Read how Honesty.AI works.
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Frequently asked questions
Where do I buy health insurance in Mississippi?
Mississippi uses the federal Marketplace at HealthCare.gov. You can enroll online, by phone, with a Navigator, or through a licensed agency connected to HealthCare.gov. The price of the same plan is identical whichever way you enroll.
When does Open Enrollment end in Mississippi for 2027?
Open Enrollment runs November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027. Enroll by December 15, 2026 for coverage starting January 1, 2027. Enrollments from December 16 through January 15 start February 1.
Has Mississippi expanded Medicaid?
No. Mississippi has not adopted the ACA Medicaid expansion. Adults with income below 100% of the federal poverty level who don’t fit a Medicaid category can fall into the coverage gap, because Marketplace subsidies start at 100% FPL.
Are Cigna and Molina leaving Mississippi?
Yes. Cigna is leaving the individual market in all of its states after 2026, and Molina is dropping out of Mississippi’s individual market. If you had either plan, choose a new plan by December 15, 2026 to avoid a gap.
Can I use a subsidy with Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi?
Premium tax credits can only be used on Marketplace plans. Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi is reported to sell individual plans off-exchange only, so the credit would not apply. Compare Marketplace options first if you qualify for a subsidy.
Keep learning: read our affordable health insurance Mississippi guide, local guides for Jackson and Tupelo, the 2027 subsidies guide, and our explainer on the health insurance Marketplace.
