For far too long, this policy has been a long-awaited dream in Mississippi. But with the recent passage of House Bill 1725, with the Senate’s strike-all amendment, Mississippi has taken a significant step forward. Currently, over 200,000 Mississippians find themselves in this coverage gap. Many of them are hardworking individuals, often in essential industries like food services and construction, who earn too little to afford private insurance but too much to qualify for Medicaid. This gap encompasses families with children, women and people with disabilities, highlighting the diverse range of individuals affected by the lack of accessible healthcare.