HEALTH COVERAGE & UNINSURED
OVERVIEW
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:
After key policies in the Affordable Care Act went into effect, uninsurance rates decreased steadily state-wide from 2016. The number of adults without health coverage dropped to 22.4% in households with incomes below 400% FPL and almost 30.3% in households at 138% FPL. From 2017 to 2018 we saw a decline of 2,556 uninsured at the 138% FPL level and 4,264 for 400% FPL, however when we look at recently released data from SAHIE for 2018 to 2020 the numbers jump to 21,662 and 30,163 respectively for 138% FPL and 400% FPL.
To Read More Click On The Following Articles:
- Adult Health Coverage & Uninsured Rates by County, A 2023 Review of 2020 SAHIE Data
- Chartbook on Adult Health Coverage, A 2021 Review of 2019 Data
- Chartbook on Children’s Health Coverage, A 2021 Review of 2019 Data
- Adult Health Coverage & Uninsured Rates by County, A 2020 Review of 2018 SAHIE Data
- Health Insurance Coverage & the ACA: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors of Mississippi Adults
- Health Insurance Coverage and the ACA: Results of the 2014-15 Survey of Mississippi Adults
- Health Insurance Coverage and the ACA: Results of the 2013 Survey of Mississippi Adults
- The Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009: Implications for Mississippi
- Building Mississippi’s Health Insurance Exchange 2012
- Health Coverage Options for Mississippians After Implementation of the ACA
- How Will Health Care Reform Affect Mississippi? 2012
- Children’s Health Coverage in Mississippi 2012
- School-Based Administrative Claiming 2012
ADULT INSURANCE COVERAGE
The Center for Mississippi Health Policy has updated two chartbooks that provide a detailed look at health insurance coverage for non-elderly adults and for children in Mississippi. Data from the 2019 American Community Survey of the U.S. Census Bureau were analyzed to develop a profile of coverage for each age group.
Key findings from the analysis provide insight into health coverage in the state and are summarized on the Center’s website. Included in the analysis is an examination of recent health insurance trends for both adults and children.
Non-Elderly Adults
- Non-elderly adults in Mississippi have lower rates of private health insurance when compared to the national rate. However, uninsurance rates for Mississippians fell from 2012 to 2015 and increased slightly since.
- Non-elderly adults, ages 45 to 64, had the lowest uninsurance rates while young adults, ages 19-25, had the highest rates of uninsurance.
- Most working non-elderly adults in Mississippi (60%) had private health insurance. However, only 2% of part-time employees had private health insurance.
- Uninsurance rates were highest for Native American and Hispanic, non-elderly adults.
- Persons below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) experience the highest rates of uninsurance.
- Private coverage is least at the lowest level of educational attainment.
- Annual premiums and employee contributions have trended upwards since 2006.
CHILD INSURANCE COVERAGE
The Center for Mississippi Health Policy has updated two chartbooks that provide a detailed look at health insurance coverage for non-elderly adults and for children in Mississippi. Data from the 2018 American Community Survey of the U.S. Census Bureau were analyzed to develop a profile of coverage for each age group.
Key findings from the analysis provide insight into health coverage in the state and are summarized on the Center’s web site. Included in the analysis is an examination of recent health insurance trends for both adults and children.
Children
- Mississippi children under 19 years of age have uninsurance rates that are slightly higher than the national rate. However, the state rate increased in 2019.
- Statewide trends show a decrease in employment-based and military coverage for Mississippi children from 2018 to 2019 and an increase in uninsurance.
- Roughly one out of 20 children lacks health insurance coverage statewide.
- Over two-thirds of uninsured children in Mississippi are likely eligible for public insurance coverage.
- Public coverage rates decline as children get older.
- Uninsurance rates are highest for Native American children.
- 43,000 children are uninsured in Mississippi, however, most (92%) of these children are eligible for coverage.
- Seven percent of children living at or below 214% Federal Poverty Level (FPL) lacks any type of insurance coverage.
UNINSURED ADULTS BY COUNTY
This fact sheet provides the number and percentage of adults ages 18 – 64 without health insurance at the county level in Mississippi and compares rates for years 2017 and 2020, the most recent data. Under the Affordable Care Act, Adults with household incomes below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) would qualify for expanded Medicaid coverage currently not elected by the state. Adults from households with incomes below 400% FPL qualify for federal support (subsidies) to buy health insurance through a Health Insurance Exchange. Data is from the 2020 Small Area Health Insurance Estimates (SAHIE) calculated by the United States Census Bureau.
To view the fact sheet, click here.
health insurance coverage & the aca
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:
- SAHIE Fact Sheet 2023, A Review of 2020 Data
- SAHIE Fact Sheet 2021, A Review of 2019 Data
- SAHIE Fact Sheet 2020
- SAHIE Fact Sheet 2019, A Review of 2018 Data
- SAHIE Fact Sheet 2018, A Review of 2017 Data
- ACA Survey Issue Brief August 2018
- ACA Survey Issue Brief August 2015
- Coverage Options For Mississippians After Implementation of the ACA
Chartbooks:
- Chartbook on Adult Health Coverage, A 2021 Review of 2019 Data
- Chartbook on Adult Health Coverage, A 2020 Review of 2018 Data
- Chartbook on Adult Health Coverage, A 2019 Review of 2017 Data
- Chartbook on Adult Health Coverage, A 2018 Review of 2016 Data
- Chartbook on Children’s Health Coverage, A 2021 Review of 2019 Data
- Chartbook on Children’s Health Coverage, A 2020 Review of 2018 Data
- Chartbook on Children’s Health Coverage, A 2019 Review of 2017 Data
- Chartbook on Children’s Health Coverage, A 2018 Review of 2016 Data
- ACA Survey Chartbook Aug 2015
- ACA Survey Chartbook Aug 2018