PRIA Logo™
MississippiSB 27042026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Association Self-Funded Health Benefit Plan Act; enact.

Sponsored By: J. Walter Michel (Republican)

Signed by Governor

InsuranceAccountability, Efficiency, Transparency

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

New association health plan option for members

Starting October 1, 2026, qualifying nonprofit trade and professional associations can offer self-funded group health plans in Mississippi after state approval. The association must have operated in Mississippi in good faith for at least three years for reasons other than insurance. The plan and its sponsoring association must each meet the three-year good-faith rule; plans must follow applicable home-state and federal rules, maintain actuarially sound rates, reserves, and excess insurance, and cannot be marketed to the general public. Members, their employees, and dependents may get coverage, but fully insured plans and plans already exempt under federal law are excluded. These plans are exempt from most Mississippi insurance laws and are not covered by the state guaranty association; buyers and participants must receive written notices about these limits. Associations may use a Mississippi-licensed health insurance producer to review a plan.

Annual checks for association health plans

An exempt plan must certify by February 15 each year that it still meets the law’s requirements; the state can deny, suspend, or revoke its exemption if it does not. The insurance commissioner can hire experts to review an exemption request, and the requesting plan must pay their reasonable costs. Plans must use licensed third-party administrators, name the commissioner to receive legal papers, and pay a filing fee set by the commissioner. Mississippi courts can enforce a U.S. District Court order barring a plan from operating in a state, all states, or a U.S. territory or possession because it is hazardous or financially impaired.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • J. Walter Michel

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Jason T Barrett

    Republican • Senate

  • Bradford Blackmon

    Democratic • Senate

  • Jeremy England

    Republican • Senate

  • Rod Hickman

    Democratic • Senate

  • W. Briggs Hopson III

    Republican • Senate

  • Benjamin Suber

    Republican • Senate

  • Angela Turner Ford

    Democratic • Senate

  • Brice Wiggins

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 173 • No: 0

House vote • 3/4/2026

Passed

Yes: 121 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/10/2026

Passed

Yes: 52 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by Governor

    3/16/2026legislature

  2. Enrolled Bill Signed

    3/10/2026House

  3. Enrolled Bill Signed

    3/10/2026Senate

  4. Returned For Enrolling

    3/5/2026House

  5. Passed

    3/4/2026House

  6. Title Suff Do Pass

    3/3/2026House

  7. DR - TSDP: AC To IN

    3/3/2026House

  8. DR - TSDP: IN To AC

    3/3/2026House

  9. Referred To Insurance;Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency

    2/13/2026House

  10. Transmitted To House

    2/11/2026Senate

  11. Passed

    2/10/2026Senate

  12. Title Suff Do Pass

    2/3/2026Senate

  13. Referred To Insurance

    1/19/2026Senate

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation