Best Health Insurance in Mississippi (2026)

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Updated: July 14, 2026

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Key Takeaways
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If your doctors accept Oscar's network, start there. Its Silver plan at $630 per month is the cheapest at every age from 18 to 60, saving $780 per year over Ambetter at the same tier.

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If your preferred providers are in Ambetter's network but not Oscar's, Ambetter is the stronger long-term pick. It holds a top-two position on price at Expanded Bronze, Silver and Gold, the only carrier in Mississippi to do so.

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Cigna is the only EPO option in the state and doesn't require specialist referrals. Its $2,733 Silver deductible is $367 lower than Ambetter's at a $3 monthly premium difference.

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Silver is the only tier that qualifies for cost-sharing reductions. For incomes between $15,960 and $39,900 per year, Silver plans can carry lower effective costs than Bronze once reductions are applied.

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Mississippi has not expanded Medicaid. Adults earning below $15,960 per year have no subsidized coverage path through the marketplace or the state.

Best Health Insurance Companies in Mississippi

In Mississippi's 2026 ACA marketplace, no PPO or POS plans are covered. When we scored every 2026 Silver HMO plan in Mississippi, Ambetter ranked first because it holds a top-two position at every tier and provides its members with faster claims processing and overall better customer experience.

At Silver, Ambetter's $695 premium is the second-lowest in the state. Oscar's $630 monthly premium is $65 below Ambetter's $695. Its $3,336 Silver deductible is $236 higher. An enrollee who rarely reaches their deductible saves $780 per year with Oscar over Ambetter. Even at the highest possible usage, with both plans at their full maximum out-of-pocket, Oscar enrollees pay $566 less annually than Ambetter enrollees. So, if cost is your top concern, choose Oscar.

Ambetter
Overall value
$695
$5,657
$3,100
4.4
Standard Silver
Oscar Health Plan
Low monthly cost
$630
$5,871
$3,336
4.3
Silver Simple
UnitedHealthcare
Lowest Silver deductible
$841
$6,234
$2,405
4.1
UHC Silver Standard (No Referrals)

*Our picks are the best health insurance options for 40-year-olds on Silver-tier HMO plans.  

UHC's $841 Silver premium costs $1,752 more per year than Ambetter. Its $2,405 deductible is the lowest in the state, the annual premium gap exceeds UHC's $695 deductible advantage by $1,057. At Silver, the only cost reason to choose Ambetter over Oscar is network fit. At Gold, Ambetter's $1,063 deductible outperforms Oscar's $1,500 for enrollees who reach it.

Ambetter

Ambetter

Best Overall

MoneyGeek Rating
4.4/ 5
4.7/5Affordability
2.7/5Deductible
5/5MOOP

  • Average Monthly Rate

    $695

  • Average MOOP

    $5,657

  • Average Deductible

    $3,100
Oscar

Oscar

Best for Low Monthly Cost

MoneyGeek Rating
4.3/ 5
5/5Affordability
2.5/5Deductible
3.8/5MOOP

  • Average Monthly Rate

    $630

  • Average MOOP

    $5,871

  • Average Deductible

    $3,336
UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare

Lowest Silver Deductible

MoneyGeek Rating
4.1/ 5
4.3/5Affordability
5/5Deductible
2.5/5MOOP

  • Average Monthly Rate

    $841

  • Average MOOP

    $6,234

  • Average Deductible

    $2,405

How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Mississippi?

At Silver, Cigna's EPO is $64 below the HMO average. Gold-tier pricing differs by $27 per month between plan types. HMO plans average $951 and EPO plans average $978. EPO plans don't require the specialist referral that the HMO plans enforce for specialist visits.

EPONo Data596692978
HMO$614660756951

*Rates are averages for 40-year-olds in Mississippi. Your rates will vary based on your age and location.

Compare Mississippi Health Insurance Providers

Molina Healthcare didn't make our top three because it has no cost advantage over Ambetter. At $828 a month for Silver, Molina shares Ambetter's $3,100 deductible and $5,657 maximum out-of-pocket exactly. So paying $133 more a month has no benefit except if network coverage in your county is better with Molina than Ambetter.

Data filtered by:
HMO
Silver
40
No
Ambetter$695HMOSilver$5,657$3,10040No
Oscar Health Plan, Inc.$630HMOSilver$5,871$3,33640No
UnitedHealthcare$841HMOSilver$6,234$2,40540No
Molina Healthcare$828HMOSilver$5,657$3,10040No
Your Next Step:

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Best Health Insurance in Mississippi by Age

Silver plan costs range from $313 per month for an 18-year-old on Oscar's HMO to $1,475 for a 60-year-old on Ambetter's HMO. ACA age rating rules allow premiums to increase up to a 3-to-1 ratio from age 21 to 64.

18
$313
$345
$344
26
$505
$557
$554
40
$630
$695
$692
60
$1,337
$1,475
$1,469

The $138 monthly gap at 60 adds up to $1,656 per year. For any enrollee over 50 shopping a multi-year commitment, I'd treat Oscar's network availability as the first question to answer as its smaller than Ambetter's. But at the same time, Oscar's monthly premium advantage over Ambetter grows as enrollees get older. The $32 monthly gap at 18 becomes a $138 monthly gap at 60.

Best Health Insurance in Mississippi by Plan Type

Mississippi's 2026 marketplace has two plan structures and no PPO options. In our analysis, the EPO vs HMO choice in Mississippi is not a cost decision. At Silver, Cigna's EPO costs just $3 less per month than Ambetter's HMO, as the two plans are separated by referral requirements rather than cost.

HMO
Ambetter
$695
$3,100
$5,657
Yes
EPO
Cigna
$692
$2,733
$5,980
No

Ambetter covers three metal tiers. Cigna's EPO is available only at Silver and Gold in Mississippi. Choose Ambetter when you want Expanded Bronze or need coverage flexibility across tiers. Choose Cigna when your providers are in its network and referral-free access matters.

How to Choose the Best Health Insurance in Mississippi

The right plan in Mississippi depends on how often you use care, whether your providers are in each carrier's network and what your income means for subsidies. The premium is only one part of that answer.

  1. 1
    Match your care pattern to the right tier

    Choose Bronze when you're comfortable paying out-of-pocket for routine care. Silver is the only tier that qualifies for cost-sharing reductions, which can lower your deductible and out-of-pocket maximum if your income qualifies. Ambetter's Gold plan, at $881 per month and a $1,063 deductible, costs less annually than its Silver plan for enrollees who reach their deductible once a year. If you have ongoing conditions or expect regular specialist visits, check the full-year math before defaulting to Silver.

  2. 2
    Confirm your providers are in-network before comparing premiums

    Mississippi plans cover no out-of-network non-emergency care. You pay the full cost, with no contribution from the plan. Search each carrier's provider directory at HealthCare.gov before comparing premiums. 

    Oscar entered Mississippi in 2026 with coverage in select counties. If your providers are in its network, it has the lowest premiums in the state. Outside its coverage area, the price advantage doesn't exist.

  3. 3
    Calculate what you'll actually spend, not just the monthly rate

    Deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums determine what you pay when care happens. Estimate how often you'll reach your deductible before choosing between carriers. A lower monthly premium with a higher deductible can cost more over a full year. Oscar's $780 annual premium savings over Ambetter at Silver narrows to $544 for enrollees who hit both deductibles in full.

  4. 4
    Check subsidy eligibility before choosing a tier

    Enhanced premium tax credits expired January 1, 2026. Standard credits now apply for single adults earning between $15,960 and $63,840 per year. Above $63,840, no federal subsidy is available. Mississippi has not expanded Medicaid, so adults earning below $15,960 have no subsidized coverage path through the marketplace or the state.

    Cost-sharing reductions are available only on Silver plans for incomes up to $39,125 per year for a single adult. These reductions lower your deductible and out-of-pocket maximum beyond the premium credit. For eligible enrollees, Silver can cost less annually than Bronze once reductions are applied.

  5. 5
    Compare Medicare options if you're turning 65

    Adults turning 65 qualify for Medicare regardless of income. Original Medicare covers hospital and medical care but leaves out-of-pocket gaps that Medicare Supplement plans cover separately. Medicare Advantage plans replace Original Medicare and often include dental, vision and drug coverage. Both are separate from the ACA marketplace with distinct enrollment windows. Compare options, if you're within two years of 65.

Which Health Insurance in Mississippi Is Right for You?

Ambetter is the starting point for most Mississippi enrollees. It ranks in the top two for affordability at every metal tier, so you're not trading value by choosing it at any coverage level. For any enrollee whose doctors accept its network and whose priority is the lowest monthly premium in the state Oscar is my pick. Bronze plan covered by UHC at $614 are the most affordable Bronze option in the state. At Silver and Gold, I wouldn't choose UHC unless your providers are exclusively in its network. The $841 Silver premium costs $1,057 more per year than Ambetter even after UHC's lower deductible is counted.

Mississippi has four Silver-tier HMO carriers and no PPO options. You can't improve network access by switching plan types. Confirm your providers are in-network before choosing on price.

Compare Health Insurance Rates

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FAQ: Best Health Insurance in Mississippi

Our Review Methodology

We analyzed every 2026 ACA marketplace plan in Mississippi using data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and HealthCare.gov. Our scores weight monthly premiums most heavily, followed by deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket costs.

  • Five carriers evaluated: Ambetter, Cigna Healthcare, Molina Healthcare, Oscar Health Plan and UnitedHealthcare.
  • Plan types covered: HMO and EPO (no PPO or POS plans available in Mississippi's 2026 marketplace).
  • Metal tiers: Bronze, Expanded Bronze, Silver and Gold (no Catastrophic or Platinum available in Mississippi).
  • Age profiles: 0 to 14, 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60.
  • Source: CMS Health Insurance Marketplace data, HealthCare.gov plan filings.
  • Scores weight: Monthly premiums (60%), deductibles (20%), maximum out-of-pocket (20%). We weight premiums most heavily because monthly cost is the primary driver of whether a plan is financially sustainable long-term. Deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums carry equal weight. Both affect total annual exposure, deductibles at the start of the plan year and out-of-pocket maximums at the ceiling.

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About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, Licensed P&C Insurance Expert, MoneyGeek

Mark Fitzpatrick, a licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has spent nearly a decade analyzing the market, first at LendingTree and now at MoneyGeek, where he produces original research on hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.

He covers economics and insurance at MoneyGeek, and his work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among other outlets.

Like all MoneyGeek analysts, he draws on independent cost and consumer experience data. No insurance company partnership influences his recommendations.

Mark holds a B.A. from Boston College and an M.A. in Economics and International Relations from Johns Hopkins University. He started his career in financial risk management at State Street and is also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.

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