Insurance

SB 2479, the "Creating Transparency and Accountability in Dental Services Act," requires dental insurance companies (referred to as "dental carriers") to calculate and report annually how much of their premium revenue is spent directly on patient care versus administrative costs. Dental carriers must file detailed reports by June 30 each year, including data matching federal standards, and make these reports publicly accessible online by December 1. The law applies to all dental health plans sold in Mississippi, excluding Medicaid and state-sponsored programs like the Children's Health Insurance Program. This transparency measure aims to clarify where premium dollars go, allowing consumers and regulators to review carrier spending patterns.

SB 2367 prohibits health insurance plans in Mississippi from requiring metastatic cancer patients to fail or prove failure on other drugs before accessing FDA-approved treatments for advanced cancer. It directly affects patients with advanced, metastatic cancer and their insurers by eliminating step therapy barriers for covered prescription drugs. The law applies only to drugs consistent with medical best practices, supported by evidence-based research, and approved by the FDA. This change ensures patients can receive necessary treatments without unnecessary delays imposed by prior authorization requirements.

HB 1448 requires Mississippi insurance companies to share claim information with the Department of Human Services (DHS) to help collect unpaid child support. Insurers must check if a claimant (the person receiving insurance payments) owes child support for claims over $500 involving negligence, personal injury, or life insurance. If child support is owed, insurers must withhold the arrears amount from the payment, send it directly to the child support agency within 10 days, and notify the claimant and their attorney. Insurers must comply fully by July 1, 2027, with penalties for non-compliance.

HB 1721, the "Additional Living Expense Fairness and Expedited Closure Adjudication Act," aims to streamline how homeowners and small businesses receive temporary housing and living expense payments (ALE) after property damage covered by insurance. It directs Mississippi’s Insurance Department to resolve disputes over ALE eligibility, amounts, or delays within strict timelines (e.g., insurers must respond to requests within 3-5 business days), and requires insurers to pay undisputed ALE immediately. The bill also allows the Insurance Commissioner to issue emergency orders to prevent hardship during disputes, such as ordering immediate payments based on local rental rates. The bill was introduced in 2026 but died in committee without becoming law.

HB 1002 deletes a repealer provision from Mississippi Code Section 25-15-15, which governs premium payments for the State and School Employees Life and Health Insurance Plan. This preserves the existing funding structure where the state covers specified portions of health and life insurance costs for eligible employees, including state workers, school staff, and library employees. The bill does not alter benefit levels or cost-sharing requirements but ensures the current mechanism for collecting premiums and funding the plan remains active. It directly affects state and school employees covered under this insurance program.