A Healthier Mississippi is Achievable

By Roy Tolbert

As a health care advocate here in Harrison County, I see every day how access to care — or the lack of it — affects the lives of people right here at home. When families can afford to see a doctor, they stay healthy, keep working, and give back to the community. But when they cannot, we all feel the impact — through unpaid hospital bills, struggling clinics, and heartbreaking situations that could have been prevented with timely care.

That is why protecting Medicaid coverage in Mississippi is so important. Health care costs keep rising, and for so many hardworking families, ensuring access to care is not just the right thing to do — it is one of the smartest, most cost-effective investments our state can make. It keeps people healthy, communities stable, and local economies strong.

Working Mississippians Are Falling Through the Cracks

Right now, too many of our neighbors are stuck in a situation known as the “coverage gap.” These are hardworking people who earn too much to qualify for traditional Medicaid but not enough to afford private insurance. They are the folks who keep our small businesses running, repair our homes, landscape and maintain our yards, and work our farms. They work hard, pay taxes, and contribute to our communities — but one illness could turn their lives upside down.

Medicaid supports hardworking Mississippians who are trying to make ends meet. Every Mississippian deserves the dignity of seeing a doctor when they are sick — without having to choose between rent and life-saving medicine. A healthy workforce also means a stronger economy. When people can get care, they miss fewer days of work, and small businesses do not have to shoulder the entire burden of private insurance. Access to health care supports families, keeps workers self-sufficient, and helps everyone stay on their feet.

And we cannot ignore what is on the horizon: key federal tax credits that help make health insurance affordable are set to expire at the end of 2025 unless Congress takes action. Without them, Mississippians who buy insurance on the marketplace could see costs rise by about $480 a year, according to KFF.

Here in Harrison County, closing that coverage gap could mean more than 10,700 people finally getting the health coverage they need. It would also create 774 new jobs, generate $3.86 million in new tax revenue, and save our local hospitals over $16 million in uncompensated care. Those are not just numbers — they represent real families who could sleep better at night knowing they are covered.

Keeping Healthcare Local

When hospitals and clinics have the stability they need, everyone benefits. Medicaid helps keep that care local — making sure facilities can stay open, retain doctors and nurses, and respond in emergencies. When a hospital closes, it is not just a loss of medical care; it is a loss for the entire community. People have to travel hours for treatment, mothers lose access to maternity care, and local economies take a hit.

Protecting Mothers and Babies

Mississippi recently declared a public health emergency because of rising infant mortality — the highest we have seen in more than a decade. Medicaid helps cover six in ten births in our state (compared to about four in ten nationally). When mothers have access to prenatal, postnatal, and emergency care, both moms and babies do better. That is something we should all stand behind.

Time to Choose a Healthier Future

We have a choice to make. Let’s work together to improve health outcomes and build a healthier, stronger, more prosperous Mississippi. The data is clear, and so are the stories we hear every day. We know what works — and our families, neighbors, and communities are counting on us.