Laurel at a glance
Laurel — Jones County seat and South Mississippi manufacturing hub
Known nationally as "Home Town" from the HGTV renovation series
South Central Regional Medical Center is the primary hospital
Mississippi has NOT expanded Medicaid — coverage gap remains for low-income adults
ACA marketplace carriers: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi and Ambetter Mississippi
Jones County population approximately 68,000
Laurel is Jones County's largest city and a South Mississippi manufacturing center that gained national attention through the HGTV series "Home Town," featuring the renovations of local couple Ben and Erin Napier. While the show brought tourism and renewed attention to Laurel's historic architecture, the city's economy is built on manufacturing, timber, and retail — sectors where employer-sponsored health coverage is inconsistent. Unlike neighboring Alabama, which expanded Medicaid in January 2024, Mississippi has not expanded Medicaid, leaving many working-class Laurel residents with limited or no affordable coverage options.
Understanding where you stand in Mississippi's coverage landscape — whether you fall in the gap, qualify for marketplace subsidies, or are among the narrow group eligible for traditional MS Medicaid — is the first step to finding coverage in Jones County.
Mississippi is one of the few remaining states that has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA. This creates a significant coverage gap for low-income adults in Laurel and across the state. Here is how Mississippi's traditional Medicaid works — and who it does not cover:
Adults without dependent children do not qualify for Mississippi Medicaid at any income level. A single adult earning $5,000 per year with no children has no Medicaid option in Mississippi.
Parents with dependent children must have very low incomes to qualify — typically below approximately $4,000 per year for a family of three under Mississippi's traditional Medicaid eligibility rules. This threshold is among the lowest in the nation.
The coverage gap exists for residents earning between $0 and approximately $15,060 per year (100% FPL for a single adult). These individuals earn too much for traditional Mississippi Medicaid (if they have dependents and income above the very low threshold) but too little for ACA marketplace subsidies, which begin at 100% FPL. They have no federally subsidized option.
ACA marketplace subsidies begin at 100% FPL. If your income is at or above approximately $15,060 (single adult, 2026), you become eligible for premium tax credits and can access subsidized marketplace coverage.
Health insurance in Laurel
Estimates for a 40-year-old single adult in Jones County. Mississippi has not expanded Medicaid — see gap row.
| Annual Income | Coverage Option | Est. Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Below $15,060 (below 100% FPL) | Coverage gap — no subsidized option available in MS | N/A |
| $15,061 – $30,120 (100–200% FPL) | Silver plan with Cost-Sharing Reduction (CSR) | $0 – $50 |
| $30,121 – $37,650 (200–250% FPL) | Silver plan with CSR | $50 – $130 |
| $37,651 – $60,000 (250–400% FPL) | Silver or Gold plan | $130 – $250 |
| Above $60,000 | Marketplace plan (8.5% income cap applies) | Varies — max 8.5% of income |
For Laurel residents who earn at or above 100% FPL and do not have access to affordable employer-sponsored coverage, the ACA marketplace offers subsidized private health insurance. Two carriers serve Jones County:
Open enrollment runs November 1 through January 15. Special Enrollment Periods are available within 60 days of a qualifying life event — job loss, income change, marriage, birth of a child, or a move. If your income rises above 100% FPL during the year, contact healthcare.gov immediately to enroll in a marketplace plan.
The coverage gap in Jones County disproportionately affects specific worker segments:
South Central Regional Medical Center (SCRMC) in Laurel is the primary hospital serving Jones County and the surrounding South Mississippi region. It offers emergency services, inpatient medical and surgical care, cardiac care, a cancer center, and a full range of specialty outpatient clinics. BCBS MS covers SCRMC as an in-network facility, making it accessible under most marketplace plans from that carrier.
For additional specialty services or higher-acuity care, Laurel residents frequently travel to Hattiesburg (approximately 45 miles west), where Forrest General Hospital and Merit Health Wesley offer a broader range of specialty and tertiary services. Jackson, approximately 100 miles north, is home to the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) — the state's primary academic medical center for complex cases. BCBS MS's statewide network generally provides the best access to facilities in both Hattiesburg and Jackson.