Abstract
Medicaid is the main payer for maternity care in the U.S., covering nearly half of all births. Federal law provides postpartum coverage for 60 days, but gaps exist, especially in non-expansion states. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 allows states to extend Medicaid postpartum coverage to 12 months. Mississippi, where Medicaid covers 65% of births, faces severe maternal and infant health challenges. Despite its surplus, extending postpartum care to 12 months could cost $7 million annually. This study examines private and public health insurance coverage for perinatal care in Mississippi. This involves analyzing how different insurance policies address the needs of pregnant women and their infants, and identifying gaps in coverage that affect health outcomes. Understanding the link between health insurance and perinatal care is essential to improving outcomes, policy, equity, and future research. Mississippi has made great strides to combat perinatal mental health among mothers/families with health insurance coverage through effective programs. This study examines the landscape of insurance coverage for perinatal care in Mississippi, galvanizes the implementation of policies pertinent to perinatal mental health challenges, and the benefits of promoting birthing families to thrive.
Recommended Citation
Michael, L. H., & Hudson, B. D. (2025). Assessing Healthcare Insurance Policies in Mississippi: An Evaluation of Public and Private Options. The Journal of the Research Association of Minority Professors, 27(1). Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.pvamu.edu/jramp/vol27/iss1/1
Included in
Maternal, Child Health and Neonatal Nursing Commons, Mental and Social Health Commons, Social Justice Commons, Women's Health Commons