Hattiesburg, Mississippi: health insurance

Coverage in Hattiesburg

Plans for Hattiesburg residents are determined by Forrest County, home to about 78,208 people (2023 estimate). Medicare Advantage plans and marketplace plans are offered by area, so use your ZIP code when you compare, and make sure a plan covers Forrest County before you choose it.

• Turning 65 in Hattiesburg? Your Initial Enrollment Period runs seven months around your birthday. Mississippi SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) offers free counseling at 1-844-822-4622.
• Buying your own plan? Shop through HealthCare.gov (federal Marketplace).
• Medicaid questions? Mississippi Division of Medicaid handles applications.

Mississippi note: Because Mississippi has not adopted ACA Medicaid expansion, some adults who would qualify for Medicaid in most other states fall into a coverage gap -- too little income for a subsidized Marketplace plan, but above Mississippi's own stricter Medicaid limits, which is worth flagging early in a call.

Colleges and universities near Hattiesburg

Mississippi public institutions include University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University, University of Southern Mississippi. Students and employees at these schools should check their school’s student health or benefits office, because campus plans and employer plans work differently from individual coverage. More about Mississippi colleges.

Other major Mississippi cities

• Jackson
• Gulfport
• Southaven
• Biloxi
• Tupelo

Reviewed by Richard Lander, licensed insurance agent (NPN 21255551), Lander LLC. Last updated October 3, 2026. This page is educational and is not a quote, an offer of coverage, or legal or tax advice.