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Jenna L. Dear, MD

Jenna L. Dear, MD

Specialties: Children's Palliative Medicine, Complex Care

Gender: Female

Practice Locations

Accepted Insurance Plans

The University of Mississippi Medical Center accepts all plans, but may not be an in-network provider with your plan. We encourage you to contact your insurer and ask if the plan is in network with UMMC. Always contact your insurance carrier for specific coverage information.

Network Participation - 2026

MississippiCAN and CHIP [Managed Care programs promulgated by the Mississippi Division of Medicaid]

  • Molina Healthcare of Mississippi, Inc.
  • Magnolia Health (Centene)
  • TrueCare

Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace [Individual plans offered on healthcare.gov]

  • Ambetter from Magnolia Health (Centene)
  • Molina Healthcare of Mississippi, Inc.
  • UHC Marketplace (Madison only)

Medicare Advantage

  • Devoted Health Plans: PPO, HMO, DSNP, CSNP
  • HealthSpring Plans: PPO, HMO, DSNP
  • Humana: PPO, HMO, DSNP, CSNP, ISNP
  • United Healthcare Plans: PPO, HMO, DSNP, CSNP, ISNP
  • WellCare (Centene) Plans: PPO, HMO, DSNP

Commercial - Group and Individual

  • Aetna Plans: PPO, HMO [Includes all facilities except UMMC Madison]
  • BCBSMS Plans: BlueCardPPO, State Health Plan (AHS), Federal Employee Plan (FEP)
  • Cigna Plans: PPO, HMO
  • United Healthcare Plans: PPO, HMO (Includes plans administered by UMR, UnitedHealth Group's wholly owned third-party administrator (TPA) subsidiary)

Transplant Only Networks

  • Optum Plan: Commercial • Programs: Solid Organ, BMT, VAD
  • Emerging Therapy Solutions (ETS) Plan: Commercial • Programs: Solid Organ, BMT, CAR-T, VAD
  • Interlink Plan: Commercial • Programs: Solid Organ, BMT, CAR-T
  • Celtic Plans: Ambetter, WellCare, Magnolia Health MississippiCAN, Magnolia Health CHIP • Programs: Solid Organ, BMT
  • Cigna Lifesource Plan: Commercial • Programs: Solid Organ, BMT, CAR-T, VAD

Dental

  • Avesis Plan: MississippiCAN and CHIP (TrueCare)
  • Always Care/Unum Plan: Commercial

Vision

  • Avesis Plan: MississippiCAN and CHIP (TrueCare)
  • Always Care/Unum Plan: Commercial

Rental Networks (Utilized by self-funded employer group plans and third-party administrators (TPAs))

  • Mississippi Physicians Care Network (MPCN) [If MPCN is present on a Member/Subscriber ID, all UMMC facilities and providers are in-network regardless of TPA.]
  • First Choice Health Plan
  • Claritev (formerly Multiplan)
  • Zelis

Government Programs

  • Humana Military Plan: Tricare
  • United Healthcare Plan: Veterans Affairs Community Care Networks

Plans and Payors UMMC is not in-network with as of April 1, 2026

  • Oscar Health Plan: ACA Marketplace [Final negotiations taking place now. Anticipate in-network participation, effective June 1, 2026.]
  • Cigna (Connect EPO) Plan: ACA Marketplace
  • American Health Advantage Plan: Medicare Advantage
  • Patrius Health (BCBSMS) Plan: Medicare Advantage
  • Aetna Plan: Medicare Advantage

Education

Board Certification: Pediatrics; Pediatrics, Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Fellowship:University of Mississippi Medical Center
Internship:University of Mississippi Medical Center
Medical Education:University of Mississippi School of Medicine
Residency:University of Mississippi Medical Center

Experience

Current Positions

Associate Division Chief of Pediatric Palliative and Complex Care, School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS08/2023 - Present
Director, School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS08/2023 - Present
Director, Pediatric Place Medical Day Center, Ridgeland, MS06/2023 - Present
Director, School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS01/2022 - Present
Assistant Professor, School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS11/2019 - Present

Specialty Certification Licensure

Certification, Hospice and Palliative Medicine01/2019 - Present
Certification, The American Board of Pediatrics10/2015 - Present
Licensure, Mississippi State Board of Meidcal Licensure07/2015 - Present

Honors, Awards, and Recognition

Pediatric Residency Conference Attendance Award, UMMC Department of Pediatrics2015
U-Matter Award, UMMC Children's of MS2015
U-Matter Award, UMMC Children's of MS2014
Batson Award for Excellence, UMMC Department of Pediatrics2012
Magna Cum Laude, Mississippi College2007