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Key Points
- Uninsurance rates have increased from 2022.
- Mississippi’s public healthcare coverage rates were 10% higher than the national average in 2023.
- Almost half of Mississippi children have private healthcare coverage.
- Public coverage rates decline as children get older.
- The uninsurance rate for Native American children in increased in 2023 but remains lower than 2021.
- Higher income levels correlate with higher amounts of private healthcare coverage while lower income levels result in higher public healthcare coverage and uninsurance.
- Over 200,000 children at or below 138% were covered by public health insurance.
- Over two-thirds of Mississippi children at or below 214% FPL are covered by public health insurance.
- The amount of children ineligible for Medicaid, CHIP, or marketplace subsidy has decreased from 2022 to 2023.
- In 2023, over 10% of families reported having no working adult. Almost 80% reported to having one full-time working adult in the family.
Source
Researchers from the State Health Access Data Assistance Center (SHADAC) at the University of Minnesota compiled Mississippi data from the 2023 United States Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) at the request of the Center for Mississippi Health Policy. The ACS asks a representative sample of households about their health insurance coverage. This chartbook summarizes the responses given by households for children ages 0 to 18 years. Data found at Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS) (https://usa.ipums.org/usa/index.shtml).
Mississippi Health Coverage Trends by Type
Children 0-18 Years Of Age | Data Range: 2014 – 2023
Uninsurance And Individually Purchased Healthcare Rates Have Increased From 2022
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Public Healthcare & Employment-Based/Military Healthcare Coverage Rates Have Decreased From 2022
Statewide trends in private healthcare coverage rates for Mississippi children under 19 years of age showed an increase from 2019 to 2023. Private individually purchased health insurance coverage increased from 3.7% to 6.1%. Employment-based and military insurance healthcare coverage experienced a slight decrease from 2022 (43.0%) to 2023 (42.4%), but was higher than 2019 (41.2%).
Uninsurance rates rose from 2022 (5.6%) to 2023 (6.2%), and public healthcare coverage rates decrease from 2019 (49.2%) to 2023 (45.3%).
| Employment-Based Military | Individually Purchased | Uninsured | Public Coverage | |
| 2014 | 40.8% | 5.6% | 5.8% | 47.8% |
| 2015 | 39.2% | 4.5% | 5.1% | 51.2% |
| 2016 | 42.3% | 4.7% | 5.1% | 47.9% |
| 2017 | 42.6% | 5.0% | 5.4% | 47.0% |
| 2018 | 43.3% | 5.0% | 5.1% | 46.6% |
| 2019 | 41.2% | 3.7% | 5.9% | 49.2% |
| 2020 | — | — | — | — |
| 2021 | 43.5% | 4.2% | 6.4% | 45.8% |
| 2022 | 43.0% | 5.4% | 5.6% | 46.0% |
| 2023 | 42.4% | 6.1% | 6.2% | 45.3% |
Health Coverage Comparison, United States Versus Mississippi
Children 0-18 Years Of Age | Data Range: 2022 – 2023
Mississippi’s Public Healthcare Coverage Was 10% Higher Then The National Rate In 2023.
In 2023, Mississippi’s private healthcare coverage for children was lower than the national private coverage rates. However, Mississippi’s public healthcare coverage was higher than the national rate.
In 2023, Mississippi’s child uninsurance rate increased to 6.2% which is slightly higher than the national rate of 5.4%. The overall rate for private healthcare coverage, nation-wide and state-wide, decreased from 2022 to 2023. The overall uninsurance rate also increased for both the nation and the state of Mississippi.
Distribution By Type Of Coverage In Mississippi
Children 0-18 Years Of Age | Data Range: 2022-2023
Private, Individually Purchased, Healthcare Coverage Slightly Increased For Mississippi Children From 2022 To 2023.
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The Rate Of Uninsured Children Has Slightly Increased For Mississippi Children From 2022 To 2023.
In 2023, there was a higher distribution of private healthcare coverage (48.5%) amongst Mississippi children age 0-18 years than public healthcare coverage (45.3%). The remainder (6.2%) were uninsured.
Coverage By Age Group In Mississippi
Children 0-18 Years Of Age | Data Range: 2022 – 2023
As Children Get Older, Public Coverage Rates Decline.
Private healthcare coverage rates were significantly higher than previous years for the age group, <1year old In 2023, uninsurance rates were higher for the age groups, 6-12 and 13-18 years of age, but lower for children in age groups, less than one year and 1-5 years of age.
Overall, in both 2022 and 2023 public healthcare coverage rates decline as children progress in age while private coverage and uninsurance rates increase as children get older.
Uninsurance By Race And Ethnicity In Mississippi
Children 0-18 Years Of Age | Data Range: 2012 – 2023
In 2023, uninsurance rates were lowest for Black children (4.2%) and second lowest for White children (6.4%). Uninsurance rates were highest for Hispanic children (15.2%) and second highest for Native American children (10.4%).
In 2023, uninsurance rates for children of Black and Other race/ethnicity declined. The uninsurance rate for White, Native American, and Hispanic children increased. The uninsurance rate for Hispanic children almost doubled since 2022.
Percent Insured By Federal Poverty Level (FPL) In Mississippi
Children 0-18 Years Of Age | Data Range: 2022 – 2023
There is a correlation between higher income levels and private insurance coverage. The same relationship can be seen between lower levels of income and public healthcare coverage and uninsurance.
To better understand the income levels illustrated in this chart, 138% on the Federal Poverty Level equates to an annual income of $20,120 for an individual and $41,400 for a family of four. To be considered 400% FPL, the annual income of an individual must be at least $58,320 and $120,000 for a family of four.
138% & 400% FPL Income Levels for 2023
| Individual | Family of Four | |
| 138% FPL | $20,120 | $58,320 |
| 400% FPL | $41,400 | $120,000 |
Number Insured By Federal Poverty Level (FPL) In Mississippi
Children 0-18 Years Of Age | Data Range: 2022 – 2023
Over 200,000 Children At Or Below 138% Fpl Were Covered By Public Health Insurance.
According to 2023 data, over 200,000 children in households at or below 138% FPL were covered by public health insurance. With each FPL group 139% or greater, the number of children covered by public health coverage significantly decreases.
The number of children covered by private insurance increases as the household income levels increase from 138% FPL. Inversely, we see that the levels of uninsurance among children increases as the household income levels decrease from 401% FPL.
Distribution By Type Of Coverage
Children 0-18 Years Of Age At Or Below 214% Federal Poverty Level (FPL) | Data Range: 2023
Over Two-Thirds Of Children At Or Below 214% FPL Are Covered By Public Health Insurance.
Public health insurance covers over two-thirds (68.7%) of children with family incomes below 214% FPL in Mississippi, while one-fifth (23.5%) are covered by some kind of private insurance. The remainder (7.8%) of children living in this income group lacks any type of coverage. These children are possibly eligible for the Medicaid and CHIP programs.
Coverage Eligibility Based On FPL And Age
Children 0-18 Years | Data Range: 2022 – 2023
The Amount Of Children Ineligible For Medicaid, Chip, Or Marketplace Subsidy Decreased From 2022 To 2023.
In 2023, the percentage of children ineligible for marketplace subsidy and public healthcare coverage (9.45%) was less than it was in 2022 (16.3%). There was also an increase in children eligible for Medicaid (43.2%) in 2023.
Distribution By Family Work Status
Uninsured Children 0-18 Years | Data Range: 2023
In 2023, almost 80% of families had at least one, full-time working adult and nearly 10% of families had at least one, part-time working adult. There was an increase of families reported having no working adult (10.6%).
