JACKSON, Miss. — On Thursday, leaders within Mississippi’s Republican legislative branch declared their intentions to advocate for Medicaid expansion to support working individuals who do not earn enough to afford private health insurance. This initiative is backed by various business groups; however, it faces opposition from Republican Governor Tate Reeves.
During the “Hobnob” event, a networking gathering organized by the Mississippi Economic Council (MEC), House Speaker Jason White and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann outlined their policy goals for 2025 in front of numerous community leaders and business representatives.
Medicaid expansion became a possibility with the passage of the health reform initiated by former President Barack Obama in 2010. Currently, Mississippi remains one of the ten states that have not implemented this expansion, despite being recognized as one of the poorest states in the nation. The financial support for this expansion would fundamentally come from the federal government, although the state would still need to manage a portion of the expenses.
Governor Reeves typically refers to Medicaid as “welfare” and has voiced his preference against increasing enrollment in the program. While he routinely attends the Hobnob event, he was notably absent this year.
The MEC, along with the Mississippi Manufacturers Association and the Business and Industry Political Education Committee, previously issued a shared statement in April during discussions regarding Medicaid expansion. They highlighted that improving access to health care would foster a healthier populace and workforce, thereby enhancing the quality of life and strengthening Mississippi communities.
The groups expressed their confidence that elected representatives and state entities would handle federal funding judiciously. Reeves is in his second term as governor, having previously served two terms as lieutenant governor.
Hosemann mentioned that Medicaid expansion could potentially assist around 75,000 working individuals who struggle to pay for insurance, acknowledging that “there’s a governor that doesn’t necessarily agree with some of our proposals.”
White emphasized the need for elected officials to govern the state through a business-centric lens, arguing that “Providing affordable access to health care for low-income workers is a smart investment in our workforce, and it is exactly the business-minded approach that all of you would take in your own individual businesses.”
The legislative session is set to commence in early January, where White also aims to tackle several significant objectives, including the gradual elimination of state income tax, a reduction in the 7% sales tax on groceries, and the implementation of a plan that would allow children to enroll in public schools outside their residential districts.
Although Hosemann supported the plan to reduce the grocery tax, he did not mention any intentions to phase out the income tax or endorse a school choice initiative, indicating that Mississippi is already in the process of lowering its personal income tax under legislation established in 2022.