How to check an insurance agent's license in Mississippi

Look the agent up in Mississippi

1. 1

   Ask for their full name and NPN

   Every licensed agent has a National Producer Number. A real agent will give it to you without hesitation.
2. 2

   Open the Mississippi Insurance Department's license lookup

   Mississippi agent license lookup. It's the official lookup from the Mississippi Insurance Department. Use "License Number Search" if you have the number, or "Advanced Search" with the agent's first and last name. The page may ask you to confirm you're not a robot.

3. 3

   Check four things

   The status is active, the license is for Mississippi (resident or nonresident), it includes a health line of authority, and it hasn't expired.

What the results mean

Active

The license is current. This is what you want to see.

Inactive, expired or lapsed

The agent can't legally sell insurance in the state right now. Don't enroll through them.

Resident or nonresident

Resident means their home office is in Mississippi. Nonresident means they're based in another state and licensed to work here. Both are fine.

Line of authority

The kinds of insurance they can sell. For Medicare plans, look for Health or Accident & Health. Life-only isn't enough.

Regulatory or disciplinary actions

Some lookups list fines or other actions. One old, small action may not mean much; several, or a revoked license, is a reason to look elsewhere.

Extra steps for Medicare plans

A state license is the first check. For Medicare plans, two more things apply:

• Appointment: the agent must be appointed by the insurance company whose plan you're choosing. Ask which companies they represent in Mississippi.
• Yearly certification: agents who sell Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans must complete each plan's training and testing every year.

Agents who sell for more than one company must also tell you, before discussing any plan's benefits, how many companies and plans they represent in your area. None of them works for Medicare.

Medigap if you're under 65 in Mississippi

Required, with limits. Mississippi gives people under 65 on Medicare because of a disability a 6-month Medigap open enrollment starting the month they qualify for Medicare (and another one at 65), but the state guide does not say which plans must be offered or mention kidney failure (ESRD).

Price: The state guide says these policies usually cost more, as much as 50% more than at 65. That's typical pricing, not a legal cap.

If you have Part B when you turn 65, you get a new 6-month Medigap open enrollment then. See every state's rule for people under 65.

If something looks wrong

• License not found or inactive: don't share your Medicare or Social Security number, and contact the Mississippi Insurance Department at 1-800-562-2957. You can also file a complaint online.
• Someone claiming to be from Medicare: hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY 1-877-486-2048).
• A listing on this site looks wrong: report it and we'll look into it.

Free, unbiased help in Mississippi: SHIP

Every state has a free Medicare counseling program. In Mississippi it's the Mississippi State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Its counselors are trained, don't sell anything, and can help you compare your options or check what an agent told you, for free.

Common questions

Nearby states

Agents often work across state lines. Check that they're licensed in the state where you live.

• Check a license in Alabama
• Check a license in Arkansas
• Check a license in Louisiana
• Check a license in Tennessee
• All states

Keep reading

• How to choose a local Medicare agentQuestions to ask, warning signs, and the dates to know.
• Medicare agent vs. broker: what's the difference?Agent, broker, producer: what the words mean, the one difference that really matters (how many companies they work with), and how to tell before you meet.