Best Cheap Health Insurance in Mississippi 2019
Find the Cheapest Health Insurance Quotes in Your Area
Cheap health insurance in the state of Mississippi can be purchased through the state health insurance exchange, though some individuals will qualify for Medicaid coverage. To help you choose the best health insurance, we evaluated all Mississippi plans and found that in the majority of counties, the Ambetter Balanced Care 2 is the cheapest policy you can purchase. Many other policies are available, but you'll only find them from one insurance company in the state exchange: Ambetter of Magnolia.
Cheapest Health Insurance Coverage by Metal Tier
To help you find the most affordable rates, we compared policies in different metal tiers in the state of Mississippi to identify the cheapest plan in each category. The insurance policies available to you will depend primarily on the county in which you live. This list should only be used as a starting point to assess your health insurance needs and coverage requirements. For example, the Ambetter Balanced Care 2 plan has a deductible of $7,050 and monthly premium of $441. But, you may decide you want a cheaper option like the Ambetter Essential Care 2 HSA, which has a premium of $427.
| Metal tier | Cheapest plan | Deductible | Out-of-pocket maximum | Monthly cost for 40-year-old |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | Ambetter Essential Care 2 HSA | $6,550 | $6,550 | $427 |
| Silver | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $7,050 | $7,050 | $441 |
| Gold | Ambetter Secure Care 1 with 3 Free PCP Visits | $1,000 | $6,350 | $597 |
As you can see in the table above, policies in the higher metal tiers have larger monthly premiums with smaller deductibles. The largest difference can be seen in the jump between Silver and Gold. The Gold health plan's deductible is $6,050 less than the deductible of the Silver plan. But, the premium for this Gold plan is more expensive by $156. Silver plans are generally middle-of-the-pack: They have modest premiums and reasonable deductibles. But the cost of your own health insurance will also depend on the county in which you live and your age.
As you can see in the graph below, a 40-year-old will pay $114 more on average per month on premiums when compared to a 21-year-old for the same coverage. Age begins to affect premiums even more as you get older. For example, a 60-year-old will pay $589 more on average than a 40-year-old for the same policy.
Finding the Best Health Insurance Coverage in Mississippi
Mississippi has not expanded its Medicaid program, but if your household family income falls below 133% of the federal poverty level, you may be eligible for Medicaid coverage. If you do not meet this requirement, then determining the most affordable Mississippi health insurance will largely depend on your income, expected expenses and the county in which you live.
Within a given county, the health insurance marketplace will offer plans in the Bronze, Silver or Gold metal tiers.
Gold Plans: Best if You Expect High Medical Costs
Gold plans cost the most but are typically the best if you expect to have a lot of medical costs. They have high monthly premiums but low deductibles, which reduce the out-of-pocket costs you'll pay in the event you need treatment. This can be helpful if you rely on prescription drugs, which tend to be a costly expense throughout the year. Gold health plans are also great for people who would prefer to pay more upfront and less later when medical services are needed.
Silver Plans: Best for Modest Premiums and Average Coverage
Silver level plans are a good middle-of-the-pack policy when compared to the Gold and Bronze tiers. The plans have average premiums and health coverage.
While all plans have the ability to receive premium tax credits, Silver plans are eligible for extra cost-saving reductions for low-income people. If your income falls below 250% of the federal poverty level, then you may be eligible for these discounts, which can be put toward reducing deductibles, copayments and coinsurance.
Bronze Plans: Best for Young, Healthy Individuals
Bronze plans have the most affordable premiums and highest out-of-pocket costs. These plans are usually best for younger individuals who are in great health. In particular, bronze plans can be a good choice if you expect to use few medical services and still want protection from high medical costs in the case of a medical emergency. Although a Bronze health plan can have relatively cheap rates, the deductible level could mean paying a lot out of pocket.
Short-Term Health Insurance in Mississippi
Short-term health insurance can be purchased through the private marketplace at any time during the year. You may want to consider looking at one of these plans if you missed open enrollment or lost coverage through an employer-sponsored health plan. However, you should note that these plans do not cover all the same benefits as a qualified Obamacare plan.
In Mississippi, short- term plans follow the federal guidelines for health insurance. This allows short-term policies to provide coverage of up to one year and be renewable for up to 36 months.
Find the Cheapest Health Insurance Quotes in Your Area
Best Cheap Health Insurance Companies in Mississippi
In Mississippi, Ambetter of Magnolia Inc. is the sole provider of health insurance on the state exchange. Though you won't be able to compare health plans between insurance companies, Ambetter of Magnolia does offer several choices within the Silver tier in some counties. These include the Ambetter Balanced Care 2, Ambetter Balanced Care 3, Ambetter Balanced Care 3 + Vision + Adult Dental.
Cheapest Health Insurance Plan by County
Silver health plans offer average premiums and cost-sharing requirements, but policy premiums will vary depending on the county in which you live. For your convenience, we have listed quotes for the cheapest Silver health insurance policies available by county, with sample prices depending on your family size.
| County | Cheapest Silver plan | Single adult, age 40 | Couple, age 40 | Couple, age 40, and child |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Alcorn | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Amite | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Attala | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Benton | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $485 | $969 | $1,210 |
| Bolivar | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Calhoun | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Carroll | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Chickasaw | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Choctaw | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Claiborne | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Clarke | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Clay | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Coahoma | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Copiah | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $508 | $1,015 | $1,268 |
| Covington | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Desoto | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $441 | $882 | $1,101 |
| Forrest | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $522 | $1,043 | $1,302 |
| Franklin | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| George | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $522 | $1,044 | $1,304 |
| Greene | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $522 | $1,043 | $1,302 |
| Grenada | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Hancock | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $522 | $1,044 | $1,304 |
| Harrison | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $522 | $1,044 | $1,304 |
| Hinds | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $508 | $1,015 | $1,268 |
| Holmes | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Humphreys | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Issaquena | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Itawamba | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $485 | $969 | $1,210 |
| Jackson | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $522 | $1,044 | $1,304 |
| Jasper | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Jefferson | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Jefferson Davis | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Jones | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $522 | $1,043 | $1,302 |
| Kemper | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Lafayette | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Lamar | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $522 | $1,043 | $1,302 |
| Lauderdale | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Lawrence | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Leake | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Lee | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $485 | $969 | $1,210 |
| Leflore | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Lincoln | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Lowndes | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Madison | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $508 | $1,015 | $1,268 |
| Marion | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Marshall | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $441 | $882 | $1,101 |
| Monroe | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Montgomery | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Neshoba | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Newton | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Noxubee | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Oktibbeha | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Panola | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Pearl River | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $522 | $1,043 | $1,302 |
| Perry | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $522 | $1,043 | $1,302 |
| Pike | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Pontotoc | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $485 | $969 | $1,210 |
| Prentiss | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Quitman | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Rankin | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $508 | $1,015 | $1,268 |
| Scott | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Sharkey | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Simpson | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $508 | $1,015 | $1,268 |
| Smith | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Stone | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $522 | $1,044 | $1,304 |
| Sunflower | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Tallahatchie | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Tate | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $441 | $882 | $1,101 |
| Tippah | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $485 | $969 | $1,210 |
| Tishomingo | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Tunica | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $441 | $882 | $1,101 |
| Union | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $485 | $969 | $1,210 |
| Walthall | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Warren | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $508 | $1,015 | $1,268 |
| Washington | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Wayne | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Webster | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Wilkinson | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Winston | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Yalobusha | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
| Yazoo | Ambetter Balanced Care 2 | $446 | $892 | $1,113 |
Average Cost of Health Insurance by Family Size in Mississippi
Health insurance costs tend to vary depending on the size of your family along with your age and the policy you choose. For example, the monthly health insurance cost for a 40-year-old couple with a Silver health plan is $994 in Mississippi. If you were to add one child to the policy, the cost would be 25% more expensive for the same plan. A family of three would pay $247 more per month for health coverage. In the table below, we break down the average cost of a health insurance plan in Mississippi depending on the size of your family.
| Family size | Average monthly cost of health plan |
|---|---|
| Single adult | $497 |
| Adult couple | $994 |
| Family of three (adult couple and a child) | $1,241 |
| Family of four (adult couple and two children) | $1,488 |
| Family of five (adult couple and three children) | $1,735 |
Editorial Note: The editorial content on this page is not provided or commissioned by any financial institution. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, statements or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and may not have been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities prior to publication.