HEALTH COVERAGE & UNINSURED

◆ OVERVIEW◆ MISSISSPPI ADULT INSURANCE COVERAGE◆ CHILD INSURANCE COVERAGE◆ UNINSURED ADULTS BY COUNTY◆ HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE & THE ACA◆ PUBLICATIONS

OVERVIEW

ACS & SAHIE

Every year the Center for Mississippi Health Policy monitors trends in health insurance coverage in Mississippi, analyzing Census data. Using this data, we compile chartbooks that examine detailed demographic characteristics such as income, age, education, and work status for the various types of coverage and provide a profile of the uninsured. In addition, we publish a separate fact sheet presenting county-level data on uninsured adults.

Why this analysis is important:

Most uninsured adults in Mississippi are working full-time but are either at or below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). As the following data points will describe, working full-time does not necessarily equate to insurance access for a large portion of Mississippi adults. While Mississippi’s uninsurance rate has declined since 2012, it remains significantly higher than the national rate.

MISSISSIPPI ADULT INSURANCE COVERAGE

SAHIE Brief

Key takeaways:

  • Compared to the nation, Mississippians are significantly more likely to be uninsured and have lower rates of private coverage.
  • While 85% of employees in Mississippi work for companies that offer health insurance, only 77% of these employees are eligible for health insurance coverage under the company’s plan.
  • Nearly half of uninsured Mississippi adults are working a full-time job.
  • Mississippi has approximately 189,930 uninsured individuals at or below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
  • In 2017, for the first time since 2013, the number of uninsured individuals at or below 138% FPL increased over the prior year.
  • For Mississippians at or below 138% FPL only about one in three get their insurance through work.

CHILD INSURANCE COVERAGE

Key takeaways:

  • The uninsured rate for children in Mississippi is equal to the national rate.
  • Mississippi children are significantly more likely to be covered by public coverage than private through an employer plan or otherwise.
  • Most uninsured children in Mississippi, nearly 70%, are eligible for public insurance coverage either through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
  • Most Mississippi children are likely eligible for public coverage or premium assistance.
  • Almost 80% of uninsured Mississippi children live in families with parents that work a full-time job.

UNINSURED ADULTS BY COUNTY

SAHIE Brief

Key takeaway:

  • Every county in Mississippi experienced a drop in the number of uninsured non-elderly adults from 2014-2017 for those at or below 138% and 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).

Each of the chartbooks contains additional findings. The chartbooks may be downloaded for children HERE and non-elderly adults HERE or by clicking on one of the links at the left of the page.

 

health insurance coverage & the aca

Insurance

The Center for Mississippi Health Policy commissioned researchers at the Social Science Research Center (SSRC) at Mississippi State University to survey non-elderly Mississippi adults to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to health insurance and the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This survey serves as a follow-up to a similar study conducted in the fall of 2013 and contains additional analysis by geographic area of the state. The Center has prepared an Issue Brief that summarizes the results of this survey, which was conducted in 2014-2015. A copy of the full SSRC Report containing all survey responses, as well as the survey methodology, is also available under Related Links.

Publications


Copies of the issue briefs, chartbooks, and reports can be downloaded here. Printed copies of all documents are available by contacting the Center for Mississippi Health Policy at 601-709-2133 or by e-mail at info@mshealthpolicy.com.

Issue Briefs:

Chartbooks:

Reports: