Rising costs, inflation negatively affecting Mississippians’ health, Senate committee told

The Mississippi Senate Insurance Study Committee is gathering information ahead of the 2026 session as members consider potential legislation.

Various speakers at Wednesday’s state Senate Insurance Study Committee told members that negative health outcomes of Mississippians are largely a result of rising insurance costs.

State Health Officer Dr. Daniel Edney gave an overview of Mississippians’ health, which he said is resulting in a decline in population due to several factors.

Each year since 1950 the state has seen an increase in the number of deaths to the point that Mississippi has a higher mortality rate than the U.S. average. Had the state ranked average in health outcomes over that period, about 280,000 more people could be alive today, Edney said.

“And that didn’t factor in the