Looking for information on how to enroll in health insurance or pay for birth control? Wondering if you are eligible for Medicaid or similar programs? You’re in the right place. Health insurance can be confusing but Personally is here to help.
Here’s an overview of the different ways to obtain coverage in Mississippi:
Medicaid Programs
Mississippi Medicaid Family Planning Waiver
This is a Medicaid program for women and men ages 13-44 who aren’t pregnant and seeking family planning services (also includes STD services). Medicaid will cover the cost of 4 visits per year to a Medicaid Family Planning Waiver provider. There are income and age-related guidelines. Many people are unaware that they are eligible for the Family Planning Waiver program. The application must be mailed to Medicaid.
Medicaid for maternity coverage
Did you recently become pregnant and do not have health insurance coverage? Medicaid might be an option for you. It’s Medicaid coverage but only during and slightly after pregnancy. Pregnant women receive benefits two months postpartum and are automatically put on the Medicaid Family Planning Waiver for one year.
Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
CHIP provides health coverage for uninsured children up to age 19 years old (including birth control and family planning). To be eligible for CHIP, a child cannot be eligible for Medicaid. Income limits for CHIP are higher than for regular Medicaid. At the time of application, children with health insurance are not eligible for CHIP.
How to find out if you’re eligible for Medicaid: Find out if you’re eligible for Medicaid or reduced rates through the Health Insurance Marketplace here.
Community health centers offer free or reduced-cost health services. They will also help you determine if you are eligible for any of the Medicaid programs above. To find a community health center near you, visit the Personally clinic locator.
Health Insurance Marketplace
The Health Insurance Marketplace, sometimes referred to as “Obamacare,” allows individuals to apply for health insurance and possibly receive reduced rates based on their income. Applying through the Marketplace will also show your eligibility for Medicaid. If you aren’t eligible for Medicaid, it will still show you how to get health insurance through private health insurance companies (such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, United, etc.). You will receive help paying for health insurance if you meet certain income guidelines. Marketplace coverage is for people who aren’t eligible for Medicaid, CHIP, or health insurance through their job.
Other Options
Power to Decide, a national nonprofit, has a program called BCBenefits that covers the cost of birth control for people under certain income limits in Mississippi. It’s not a health insurance program and you can be eligible even if you have health insurance. To learn more, visit https://www.bedsider.org/where_to_get_it/bcbenefits
Thanks to the health care law, most health insurance plans must cover birth control and other important women’s health needs at no additional costs to you. If you’re still paying out-of-pocket for your birth control and other health care, the National Women’s Law Center’s free hotline can help.