Facts About Health Insurance in Mississippi
- Mississippi is included in a state risk pool, which means individuals can purchase health insurance from state-sponsored health programs..
- Pre-existing health issues are covered by Mississippi health insurance companies.
- Non-discriminatory health insurance in Mississippi.
Many people in Mississippi don’t know that health insurance coverage is widely available due to a risk pool with other states. In 1976, Mississippi entered into this pool to ensure that every person in Mississippi could get health insurance. The state assumes all the risk, and individuals can buy health insurance from state-sponsored programs if they have been rejected from other health insurance companies. Many people cannot find a health insurance company in Mississippi that will insure them because they have pre-existing health issues (such as diabetes, cancer, etc.), but state-sponsored programs promise to give health insurance to those people.
The catch, however, is that these state-programs are more costly than acquiring private health insurance.
Health insurance in Mississippi can be costly and confusing if you don’t know the following things:
2. Where to find health insurance.
3. How to lower rates or find cheap health insurance with plenty of coverage.
DID YOU KNOW??? By 2014, it will be illegal for health insurance companies to increase your rates because of pre-existing medical conditions (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (link: http://www.healthcare.gov/law/full/index.html)).
What is Health Insurance?
Health insurance is any program that will pay for your medical expenses, in full or in part. Health insurance companies ask for a monthly premium, which you pay in exchange for a larger deductible (the sum of money allotted to your needs). For example, you can pay $150 a month and get $20,000 in case of an emergency. When you ask for the money (make a claim), your insurance rates increase and you will find you pay more per month.
Health insurance and medical insurance work in similar ways, though are slightly different. Health insurance is the umbrella term and underneath it is medical insurance, a type of health insurance available to people in Mississippi. Major medical insurance is the most commonly used type of health insurance for individuals.
What is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)?
In March of 2010, US President Barack Obama signed the PPACA and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 to commence Congress’ principal health care reform legislation. It’s reformations include expanding access to healthcare and an increase in medical spending.
Where to Find Health Insurance in Mississippi
The most common health insurance companies for public health insurance are Medicaid and Medicare. You can find out more about them at the Centre for Medicare and Medicaid Services at https://www.cms.gov/.
The Insurance Department of Mississippi (link: http://www.mid.state.ms.us/consumer/health_insurance.aspx) has a lot of information about health insurance that is directed at consumers. You can find out about state laws for health insurance, insurance company restrictions and guidelines, tips on lowering your premiums and more.
For more information about the Mississippi Health Insurance Risk Pool Association, visit http://www.mississippihealthpool.org/index.php. If you have been rejected by health insurance companies on account of pre-exisitng medical conditions, this site will give you information on how to obtain coverage.
Cheap Health Insurance in Mississippi
DO NOT HESITATE to get health insurance quotes from companies online or by phone. You should read your policy regularly and shop around for cheap quotes to show your current health insurance provider the low monthly rates. They should be able to match the cheap quote for your health insurance policy. If they can’t match it, you should consider finding a new health insurance company.
Tips to Get Cheap Insurance Quotes, or Lower Your Monthly Rates:
- Spouses using health insurance through work should compare costs of finding a new provider who might give cheaper quotes.
- Stay in a health-network as outlined by your health insurance company, and always use their referrals. If you go out of the health-network, you may void a part of your insurance coverage.
- Keep all receipts. If you exceed your deductible, you may be eligible to receive a tax receipt for out-of-pocket medical expenses.
These are simple ways for you to keep low monthly rates on health insurance while maximizing your coverage.
Health Tips for Cheap Health Insurance
If you’re looking for more information about lowering your health insurance costs, stay healthy and stay informed. The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi (link: http://www.bcbsms.com/ ) is a health-conscious network that can provide you with information about health insurance, healthcare reform, healthy living, and even career opportunities in healthcare.
If you are looking to find another health insurance company that might give you cheap health insurance, use the quick links below to find more information.
Additional Information about Health Insurance in Mississippi
- http://www.mid.state.ms.us/consumer/health_insurance.aspx
- http://www.healthcare.gov/law/index.html
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patient_Protection_and_Affordable_Care_Act
- http://www.bcbsms.com/ http://www.mississippihealthpool.org/index.php
- http://www.mid.state.ms.us/consumer/tips/lower_health_insurance.aspx
- http://www.healthcare.gov/law/full/index.html
