Long Beach is a small coastal city in Harrison County, Mississippi, situated between Gulfport to the east and Pass Christian to the west along the Gulf of Mexico shoreline. With a population of approximately 15,000, Long Beach has the character of a quiet residential beach town — less commercial than Gulfport or Biloxi but close enough to benefit from the larger metro's hospital systems, employment base, and retail infrastructure. The University of Southern Mississippi's Gulf Park campus is located here, adding a student and faculty population to the community.
For health insurance purposes, Long Beach is part of the Harrison County ACA marketplace pool. Mississippi uses the federal marketplace at HealthCare.gov, and the state has not expanded Medicaid — a critical fact that creates a coverage gap for the lowest-income residents.
The coverage gap is particularly relevant on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where the tourism, casino, and hospitality industries employ large numbers of workers in part-time or seasonal positions that rarely include health benefits. If you earn above 100% FPL ($15,960 for a single adult), you do qualify for marketplace subsidies — and the subsidies can be substantial at the lower end of that range.
Harrison County's position as the most populated county on the Mississippi Gulf Coast generally supports more carrier competition than Mississippi's rural interior. Compare all available plans at HealthCare.gov using your Long Beach zip code. Pay attention to network differences — a carrier with a lower premium but a narrower network may not include the Gulfport-area providers you already use.
| Annual Income (Single Adult) | % of FPL (2026) | Subsidy Status | Est. Net Monthly Cost (Silver) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below $15,960 | Below 100% | Mississippi coverage gap — no subsidy | Full premium (no assistance) |
| $15,960 – $23,940 | 100–150% | Maximum subsidy + Enhanced Silver CSRs | $0 – $28/month |
| $23,941 – $31,920 | 150–200% | Strong subsidy + Silver CSRs | $28 – $80/month |
| $31,921 – $47,880 | 200–300% | Meaningful subsidy | $80 – $185/month |
| $47,881 – $63,840 | 300–400% | Moderate subsidy | $185 – $310/month |
Estimates for a single 40-year-old on a benchmark Silver plan. Actual costs depend on household size, age, carrier, and plan selection. The 8.5% income cap on premiums applies under current ARP extensions.
Long Beach benefits from its location in the Harrison County coastal corridor, which has the strongest hospital infrastructure on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Memorial Hospital at Gulfport is a major regional medical center approximately 5 miles east of Long Beach. Garden Park Medical Center in Gulfport and Merit Health Biloxi provide additional inpatient and specialty options within a 15-mile radius.
For a coastal community of 15,000, this level of hospital access is excellent by Mississippi standards. The challenge for Long Beach residents is not hospital proximity but rather confirming that their chosen ACA plan includes these facilities in-network. Different carriers have different hospital and specialist agreements, and a plan that excludes Memorial Hospital — the dominant facility in the area — would be a poor fit for most Long Beach residents.
The seasonal nature of some Gulf Coast employment — tourism, hospitality, fishing, and marine services — can also affect health insurance. Workers whose hours fluctuate seasonally should estimate their annual income carefully for subsidy calculation purposes. Overestimating income means smaller subsidies during the year but a possible refund at tax time; underestimating means a possible repayment. Getting the estimate right from the start avoids surprises.
Long Beach residents enroll through HealthCare.gov using their Harrison County zip code. Open enrollment for 2026-2027 runs November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027. Enroll by December 15 for January 1 coverage. Special enrollment periods are available for qualifying life events including job loss, moving, marriage, or having a baby.
Ready to compare health insurance plans in Long Beach? A licensed agent familiar with the Mississippi Gulf Coast market can walk you through your options at no cost.
Get a Free QuoteAlso see: Mississippi Health Insurance guide · Harrison County, MS · Gulfport, MS