Insurance

SB 2409 creates the "Strengthen Mississippi Homes Program" within the Mississippi Department of Insurance to provide financial grants for homeowners and commercial property owners to retrofit structures against hurricane, tornado, and other windstorm damage. The bill increases grant amounts to $15,000 per home, replaces the previous "Comprehensive Hurricane Damage Mitigation Program," and establishes a dedicated "Strengthen Mississippi Homes Fund" funded partly by increased insurance agent fees. Property owners must be insurable, and insurance companies must notify clients about the program within 30 days of filing discount schedules. The program requires the Department of Insurance to set eligibility rules, prioritize grants based on reducing state risk, and report annually on grants awarded and homes retrofitted.

HB 939 extends the expiration date of Mississippi's Length-of-Service Award Program (LOSAP), which provides paid service awards to volunteer firefighters. The bill delays the program's sunset date beyond July 1, 2029 (currently specified in the law), ensuring continued funding for the program. LOSAP awards, capped at $500 annually per eligible volunteer firefighter, are designed to recruit and retain active volunteer fire department members who meet registration requirements. The program is administered by a board including the Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Coordinator, with funds held in a state treasury special fund. This extension directly affects volunteer firefighters in Mississippi who qualify under the program's existing rules.

HB 557 requires Mississippi health insurers to reimburse pharmacists at least the same rate they pay other non-physician healthcare providers for specific services within a pharmacist’s scope of practice (as defined in §73-21-73) that would otherwise be covered under a policy. This applies to all health insurance policies issued or renewed in Mississippi on or after January 1, 2027. The law ensures pharmacists receive equitable payment for services like medication therapy management or vaccinations that fall within their professional scope. It directly affects pharmacists providing covered services and insurers operating in Mississippi.

HB 1117, the "Creating Transparency and Accountability in Dental Services Act," requires dental insurance companies (dental carriers) to calculate and annually report their dental loss ratio (DLR) - the percentage of premium dollars spent directly on patient dental care versus administrative costs. Dental carriers must file these reports by June 30 each year, detailing how much was spent on clinical services, unpaid claims, and recovered payments, while excluding overhead like staff salaries or network development. The Commissioner of Insurance will make these reports publicly accessible on the department's website by December 1 each year and submit aggregated data to the Insurance Committees. This applies to all dental health plans sold in Mississippi but excludes Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program, and other state-sponsored plans.

SB 2704 creates a new option for professional and trade associations in Mississippi (like groups of doctors, lawyers, plumbers, or electricians) to offer self-funded health plans regulated by another state or federal authority, rather than Mississippi’s insurance laws. These plans must meet specific requirements, including operating for three years without insurance as their primary purpose, being nonprofit, and maintaining proper reserves. The bill requires clear written notices to members that these plans are not regulated by Mississippi’s Insurance Department, not covered by the state’s guaranty association, and have no state oversight on costs or benefits. This provides additional health coverage choices for association members while exempting these plans from most Mississippi insurance regulations.