Medicare in Mississippi runs on the same federal rules as everywhere else, with one local advantage worth knowing. Mississippi charges no asset test for its Medicare Savings Programs, so residents with limited income can get help paying their Part B premium even if they hold modest savings. Free, unbiased counseling through Mississippi SHIP can walk you through it.

In This Guide

About these numbers: The premiums and deductibles below come from CMS for calendar year 2026, effective January 1. Medicare costs change every year. For the most current figures, contact Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 (1-800-MEDICARE) or Mississippi SHIP at 1-800-421-2408.

What Do Parts A and B Cost in Mississippi?

Original Medicare is run directly by the federal government and comes in two parts. The mechanics and costs are identical in Mississippi and every other state.

Part A (Hospital Insurance)

Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, limited skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and some home health care.

Cost Amount
Monthly premium $0 for most people (40+ quarters of work history)
Hospital deductible $1,736 per benefit period
Hospital coinsurance, days 61-90 $434 per day
Lifetime reserve days $868 per day
SNF coinsurance, days 21-100 $217 per day

The hospital deductible rose $60 from 2025. A benefit period starts the day you are admitted and ends 60 days after you leave. Get readmitted after that, and the deductible applies again.

Part B (Medical Insurance)

Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, durable medical equipment, and mental health care. It does not cover routine dental, vision, or hearing.

  • Monthly premium: $202.90 (higher if your 2024 income was above $109,000 single or $218,000 married, under the income-related adjustment)
  • Annual deductible: $283
  • After the deductible: you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for most services

Part B is technically optional, but nearly everyone signs up. Delay past your enrollment window without other creditable coverage and you will owe a late penalty of 10% for every 12 months you could have had it, for as long as you keep Part B.

Medicare Advantage in Mississippi (Part C)

Medicare Advantage plans are an alternative to Original Medicare, sold by private insurers. They cover everything Parts A and B do, except hospice, which Original Medicare keeps covering. Most bundle in Part D drug coverage along with extras like dental, vision, and hearing.

Mississippi residents in the Jackson metro area and along the Gulf Coast (Biloxi and Gulfport) generally see the widest choice of plans. Rural areas in the Delta and Central Mississippi tend to have fewer options. Plan options, networks, and prices change every year and differ by county, so compare what is actually available at your address before you decide.

How These Plans Work

Use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov to compare plans by ZIP code. Enter your doctors and prescriptions and it shows which plans cover them and your estimated cost. If you want help reading the results, a Mississippi SHIP counselor will go through them with you for free.

How Does Medicare Part D Work in Mississippi?

Part D covers outpatient prescription drugs. You can get it as a standalone plan paired with Original Medicare, or built into a Medicare Advantage plan.

The Inflation Reduction Act eliminated the old coverage gap, the donut hole, so that higher-cost middle stage is gone. Part D now moves through three phases:

  1. Deductible: you pay full price until you meet your plan's deductible (up to $615 in 2026).
  2. Initial coverage: you pay copays or coinsurance while your plan and drug makers cover the rest.
  3. Catastrophic: once your out-of-pocket spending reaches $2,100, you pay $0 for covered drugs the rest of the year.

That $2,100 cap is the number that matters most in Part D. It was $2,000 in 2025 and rises with drug-spending growth. The average standalone Part D premium for 2026 runs roughly $40 to $50 a month, though actual plan premiums vary widely. Every plan also has to offer the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which lets you spread your out-of-pocket drug costs into capped monthly payments across the year instead of paying in full at the pharmacy. People who qualify for Extra Help often pay much less, sometimes nothing.

Not sure which Part D plan fits your prescriptions? Chat with Brevy's care navigator at brevy.com.

Should You Buy Medigap in Mississippi?

Medigap policies are sold by private insurers to fill the gaps in Original Medicare: the deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. They work only with Original Medicare, never with Medicare Advantage.

Mississippi offers the federally standardized plans, labeled A through N, including high-deductible Plan F and Plan G. Plans C and F are closed to anyone who became Medicare-eligible on or after January 1, 2020. Plan G is the popular choice for people newly eligible: it covers the Part A deductible, Part A and Part B coinsurance, and skilled nursing coinsurance, leaving only the $283 Part B deductible on you.,

Your strongest opening is the federal Medigap Open Enrollment Period, the six months that begin when you are 65 and enrolled in Part B. During that window an insurer must sell you any plan at the standard rate regardless of your health. Outside it, Mississippi insurers may use medical underwriting, meaning they can review your health, charge more, or decline you.

Mississippi does not have a confirmed birthday rule or a state-law guarantee of Medigap access for beneficiaries under 65 who reach Medicare through disability. If you are under 65 and on Medicare, contact a Mississippi SHIP counselor to understand your current options in the market.

Medigap or Medicare Advantage?

You cannot hold both. Choose Medigap and you stay on Original Medicare with the freedom to see any provider who takes Medicare nationwide, at a higher monthly premium. Choose Medicare Advantage and you trade some of that freedom for a network and a lower upfront cost. For a side-by-side look at the trade-off, see our guide to Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage.

Help Paying for Medicare in Mississippi

If you live on a fixed income, two programs can cut your Medicare costs sharply, and Mississippi runs them with one feature that helps more residents qualify: no asset test.

Mississippi's Medicare Savings Programs

Mississippi runs its Medicare Savings Programs through the Mississippi Division of Medicaid as three tiers set by income: QMB, SLMB, and QI. What sets Mississippi apart is that the Division of Medicaid applies no resource (asset) test to any of the three, stating for each group that "it does not matter what your resources are in this group. There is no resource test." In most states, a QMB, SLMB, or QI applicant must fall under a federal asset limit of about $9,950 for one person; in Mississippi, your savings and other countable assets do not factor in at all.

Program Income (FPL) Individual Couple What it pays
QMB At or below 100% About $1,350 About $1,824 Part A and B premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance
SLMB Over 100% to 120% About $1,616 About $2,184 Part B premium only
QI Over 120% to 135% About $1,816 About $2,455 Part B premium only (limited funding)

The figures above are the 2026 effective monthly limits, tied to the Federal Poverty Level and updated each spring. QMB is the most generous tier: it covers your Part B premium plus your deductibles and coinsurance, and federal law bars providers from billing a QMB enrollee for that cost-sharing. SLMB and QI both pay only the Part B premium ($202.90 a month in 2026); the difference is the income band each one covers. QI runs on a capped federal allotment granted first-come, first-served, so if your income falls between 120% and 135% of the poverty level, apply early in the year and ask the Division of Medicaid for the QI program by name. Enrolling in any of the three automatically qualifies you for Extra Help with Part D.

How to Apply for a Medicare Savings Program in Mississippi

You apply through the Mississippi Division of Medicaid, and a Mississippi SHIP counselor can complete the application with you for free.

1
Step 1

Confirm this year's income limits

The QMB, SLMB, and QI thresholds rise each spring with the Federal Poverty Level, so check the current figures before you file. Remember there is no asset test in Mississippi, so only income counts.

2
Step 2

Gather your paperwork

Have your Medicare card and recent proof of income ready, such as a Social Security award letter or pension and wage statements.

3
Step 3

Apply through the Division of Medicaid

File online at medicaid.ms.gov or call 1-800-421-2408. If your income is between 120% and 135% of the poverty level, ask for the QI program by name.

4
Step 4

Or let a counselor do it with you

Call 1-800-421-2408 to reach a Mississippi SHIP counselor who will weigh your income against the limits and help you complete the application at no cost.

Extra Help for Part D

Extra Help, also called the Low-Income Subsidy, pays Part D premiums, deductibles, and copays for people with limited income and resources. Since 2024 the partial-subsidy tier is gone, so everyone who qualifies now gets the full subsidy.

  • Income limit (2026): up to about $1,995 a month for an individual, $2,705 for a couple
  • Resource limits: $16,590 for an individual, $33,100 for a married couple
  • If you qualify for QMB, SLMB, or QI, you are enrolled in Extra Help automatically

Apply through Social Security at ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213.

Medicare Enrollment Periods

Miss a deadline and you can face coverage gaps or permanent penalties. These dates are federal and the same in Mississippi as everywhere else.

Period Dates What you can do
Initial Enrollment 7 months around your 65th birthday Sign up for Parts A, B, and D; pick MA or Medigap
Annual Open Enrollment Oct 15 - Dec 7 Switch MA plans, move between MA and Original Medicare, change Part D
MA Open Enrollment Jan 1 - Mar 31 Switch MA plans or drop MA for Original Medicare (if already in MA)
General Enrollment Jan 1 - Mar 31 Sign up for Part B if you missed your initial window
Medigap Open Enrollment 6 months from age 65 + Part B Buy any Medigap plan at the standard rate, no health screening

Changes you make during Annual Open Enrollment take effect the following January 1. If you are already getting Social Security before 65, you are enrolled in Parts A and B automatically; if not, you sign up yourself through Social Security. If you work past 65 with employer coverage, you can delay Part B without penalty and have an 8-month Special Enrollment Period after that coverage ends.

Free Medicare Help: Mississippi SHIP

You do not have to figure this out alone, and you do not have to pay a broker. Mississippi's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) provides free, trained-counselor assistance to Medicare beneficiaries and their families. Mississippi SHIP is coordinated through the Mississippi Division of Medicaid and local aging agencies. Counselors give free and unbiased help and do not sell insurance.

A Mississippi SHIP counselor can help you:

  • Understand your Medicare options and what each part covers
  • Compare Medicare Advantage, Part D, and Medigap plans side by side
  • Apply for Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help
  • Sort out claims, denials, and appeals
Mississippi Division of Medicaid Takes applications for the Medicare Savings Programs, verifies your income, and connects you to SHIP counseling. 1-800-421-2408 medicaid.ms.gov
Mississippi SHIP Free, unbiased one-on-one counseling on Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Part D, Medigap, and the programs that lower your costs. Coordinated through the Division of Medicaid. 1-800-421-2408 medicaid.ms.gov
1-800-MEDICARE The federal Medicare help line can confirm your enrollment, explain the QMB billing protection, and point you to plans in your area. 1-800-633-4227 medicare.gov
Your next step Call the Mississippi Division of Medicaid at 1-800-421-2408 to reach a free SHIP counselor who can screen you for the Medicare Savings Programs, walk you through Part D and Medigap choices, and help you apply, without ever selling you anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Medicare cost in Mississippi in 2026?

Most people pay $0 for Part A. The standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month with a $283 annual deductible. Part D premiums vary by plan (the 2026 average runs about $40 to $50 a month), and many Medicare Advantage plans charge no extra premium. Your total depends on the plan you pick and the care you use.

What makes Mississippi's Medicare Savings Programs different?

Mississippi applies no resource (asset) test to its Medicare Savings Programs. In most states, a QMB, SLMB, or QI applicant must hold countable assets under about $9,950 for one person or $14,910 for a couple. Mississippi's Division of Medicaid waives that test entirely, stating for each program that "there is no resource test," so only your monthly income against the Federal Poverty Level decides whether you qualify. The three tiers are QMB (at or below 100% FPL), SLMB (over 100% to 120%), and QI (over 120% to 135%), and all three pay at least your Part B premium.

How do I apply for Mississippi's Medicare Savings Programs?

Apply through the Mississippi Division of Medicaid at medicaid.ms.gov or by calling 1-800-421-2408. You can also get help from a Mississippi SHIP counselor through the same number. If your income is between 120% and 135% of the poverty level, ask for the QI program by name. Enrolling in any Medicare Savings Program automatically qualifies you for Extra Help with Part D.

Who runs Medicare counseling in Mississippi?

Mississippi's SHIP counseling is coordinated through the Mississippi Division of Medicaid and local aging agencies, providing free one-on-one help from trained counselors who do not sell insurance. Reach SHIP by calling the Division of Medicaid at 1-800-421-2408 or visiting medicaid.ms.gov.

Are Medicare Advantage plans available across Mississippi?

Plan availability varies by location. The Jackson metro and the Gulf Coast (Biloxi and Gulfport) tend to have the widest selection. Rural areas in the Mississippi Delta and Central Mississippi generally have fewer options. Use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov to see what is available at your specific address.

Learn More

MedicareMedicare Plans by State: What Varies and What Doesn'tOriginal Medicare is the same in all 50 states. Medicare Advantage, Part D, and Medigap rules are not. See what changes by state, then open your state guide. MedicareMedicare: The National GuideWhat is Medicare? A plain guide to Parts A, B, C, and D, who qualifies, 2026 costs, when to enroll, and what it doesn't cover, with help-paying options. MedicareOriginal Medicare vs. Medicare AdvantageCompare original Medicare vs Medicare Advantage on cost, networks, the $9,250 cap, and switching back. A neutral 2026 side-by-side to help you choose. MedicareHow Medigap WorksMedigap (Medicare Supplement) explained: how the standardized A-N plans work, Plan G vs Plan N, closed C and F plans, and the 6-month guaranteed-issue window. MedicareMedicare Part D Drug CoverageMedicare Part D in 2026: a $2,100 out-of-pocket cap, no donut hole, three benefit phases, the $615 deductible, premiums, the late penalty, and Extra Help. MedicareMedicare Savings ProgramsMedicare Savings Programs help low-income enrollees pay Part B premiums and, with QMB, all cost-sharing. See the four MSPs, 2026 limits, and how to apply. MedicareMedicare Enrollment PeriodsWhen to sign up for Medicare without a lifelong penalty: the 7-month Initial Enrollment Period, working past 65, the GEP, and what each late penalty costs.

Find personalized help with Medicare in Mississippi at brevy.com.

The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.

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