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Michigan Health Insurance

By amartinez

Updated on February 18th, 2022

In this Article

Michigan and the ACA Individual Health Insurance Michigan Health Insurance Marketplace Health Insurance Companies Health Insurance Costs Obamacare Subsidies Low-Income Coverage Options Medicare in Michigan Short-Term Health Insurance

We want to help you make educated healthcare decisions. While this post may have links to lead generation forms, this won’t influence our writing. We adhere to strict editorial standards to provide the most accurate and unbiased information.

Nine Michigan carriers offer Marketplace plans in 2021. Average premium rates are slightly higher. 

Michigan Health Insurance Overview

Michigan has a robust individual health insurance market for 2020. More than a quarter-million residents are enrolled in private Marketplace plans.1 Monthly premiums in Michigan are lower than most states. About eight in 10 enrollees get tax-credit subsidies that save money on premiums.2

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Residents also have access to affordable health insurance through Medicaid and Medicare. About 4 million Michiganders receive coverage through these programs.

We cover more detail about Michigan health insurance below.

Michigan and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) 

The number of Michiganders without health insurance has declined since the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) was implemented in 2013. More than 1 million residents lacked coverage in 2013 compared to 526,500 as of 2018.

An important step in Michigan’s health insurance market is Medicaid expansion. The ACA gave states the option to expand eligibility to childless adults under 65 who earn up to 133% of the federal poverty level (amounts to 138% based on how the rate is calculated).

Michigan implemented Medicaid expansion in 2014.3 Since then, roughly 688,000 childless adults (as of Oct. 2019) gained Medicaid coverage.4

What You Need to Know

Sign-ups for 2021 individual coverage start on November 1, 2020 and end December 15, 2020.

Eleven insurers offer plans on and off the federal health insurance marketplace.

Average Obamacare premiums in Michigan are among the lowest in the country.

Buying Michigan Health Insurance for Individuals, Families, and Self-Employed Entrepreneurs 

Michigan insurers offer several private health plans for individuals and families. This group includes self-employed entrepreneurs who have no employees.

You can buy an ACA plan through the federal exchange at Healthcare.gov. Companies also sell plans off the exchange. Plans provide major medical insurance that include essential health benefits, such as prescription drug coverage, hospitalization, and maternity care. All ACA policies are guaranteed issue and must cover preexisting conditions.

You can choose from plans in all metal levels: bronze, silver, gold, and platinum.5 Each level pays for a percentage of your care ranging from 60% to 90%. For instance, bronze coverage pays 60% and is usually the least expensive plan. Platinum coverage pays for 90% and is the most expensive plan.

Catastrophic Health Insurance in Michigan: An Alternative Option

Companies also offer catastrophic health insurance. This type of coverage is designed for adults under 30 who typically have fewer health issues. But it’s also available to older adults who qualify for a hardship exemption.

Catastrophic plans are ideal for situations that can result in high medical expenses, such as a serious illness or major accident. They’re not recommended for routine care. Plans offer low monthly premiums but have high deductibles.

More Time to Enroll

Michigan residents who did not enroll in a health plan have another opportunity to do so. The federal government reopened the federal Marketplace because of the coronavirus. The Special Enrollment Period lasts from February 15, 2021 through May 15, 2021.

Michigan Health Insurance Marketplace

Michigan residents use the federal Marketplace (Healthcare.gov) for enrollment in qualified health plans. Nearly, 263,000 residents bought Marketplace coverage during the 2020 enrollment period.6

The 2021 Open Enrollment Period starts on November 1, 2020 and ends on December 15, 2020. Coverage begins on January 1, 2021.

If you don’t sign up, you can still sign up if you have a qualifying life event, such as losing coverage or getting married. If not, you’ll have to wait until the next open enrollment starting on November 1, 2021. 

Help with Premiums

Michigan residents who enrolled in Obamacare got an average subsidy of #388 in 2019.

Health Insurance Companies In Michigan 

Nine Michigan health insurance companies sell plans on the exchange for 2020. Plans available include bronze, expanded bronze, silver, gold, and catastrophic. Not all companies offer each plan type, and options vary by region.

  1. Alliance Health and Life Insurance
  2. Blue Care Network of Michigan 
  3. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan 
  4. Health Alliance Plan
  5. McLaren Health Plan Community 
  6. Meridian Health Plan of Michigan 
  7. Molina Healthcare of Michigan 
  8. Oscar Insurance Company
  9. Physicians Health Plan
  10. Priority Health 
  11. Total Health Care USA 

Health Insurance Costs in Michigan

Marketplace premiums in Michigan are among the lowest in the country. The average benchmark premium in Michigan for 2020 is $360 a month compared to $462 for the U.S. average. The benchmark premium is based on the second-lowest-cost silver plan.

Premiums fell slightly in 2020 among bronze, silver, and gold plans. Here’s a look at the average monthly premiums in Michigan from 2019 to 2020:

  • Average lowest-cost bronze premium: $255 in 2019; $251 in 2020
  • Average lowest-cost silver premium: $367 in 2019; $348 in 2020
  • Average lowest-cost gold premium: $400 in 2019; $382 in 2020

For 2021, the state approved a 1.34% increase on the average unsubsidized premium, or $5 more a month.7

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const dataPromise = d3.csv(“https://content-static.stg.healthcare.inc/data/rates-sorted-2021-2-03.csv”);// Load data const mapPromise = d3.json(“https://content-static.qa.healthcare.inc/data/aca-rates/us-states.json”);// Load map Promise.all([dataPromise, mapPromise]).then(function (values) { ready(values) }); function ready([data, map]) { console.log(map) console.log(data) // Set the dimensions of the canvas / graph var margin = { top: 50, right: 50, bottom: 20, left: 50 }, width = 600; height = 400; // Create map var map1 = d3.select(“div#container”) .append(“svg”) .attr(“preserveAspectRatio”, “xMinYMin meet”) .attr(“viewBox”, “0 0 600 400”) // map title map1.append(“text”) .attr(“class”, “mapTitle”) .attr(“x”, width / 2) .attr(“y”, 30) .style(“text-anchor”, “middle”) .style(“fill”, “dimgray”) .text(“ACA Premium Changes 2021”); map1.append(“text”) .attr(“x”, width / 2) .attr(“y”, 50) .style(“font-size”, “0.7em”) .style(“text-anchor”, “middle”) .style(“fill”, “dimgray”) .style(“font-style”, “italic”) .text(“Interactive”); // D3 Projection d3.geoAlbers()? var projection = d3.geoAlbersUsa() .translate([width / 2 – margin.right, height / 2]) // translate to center of screen .scale([600]); // scale things down to see entire US // Define path generator var path = d3.geoPath() // path generator converts GeoJSON to SVG paths .projection(projection); // tell path generator to use albersUsa projection // create object that holds states and rateChanges let metricDataByState = {} data.forEach(d => { metricDataByState[d[“State”]] = +d[“rateChange”] || 0 }) // create array of rateChanges const metricValues = Object.values(metricDataByState) // find min and max const metricValueExtent = d3.extent(metricValues) // accessors hold name and id const stateNameAccessor = d => d.properties[“name”] const stateIdAccessor = d => d.properties[“id”] const maxChange = d3.max([-metricValueExtent[0], metricValueExtent[1]]) const colorScale = d3.scaleSequential(d3.interpolateViridis) .domain([-13.1, 10.2]) // Loop through each state data value in the .csv file for (var i = 0; i < data.length; i++) { // Grab State Name var dataState = data[i].State; // Grab percent change value var dataValue = data[i].rateChange / 100; // Grab average cost value var monthlyCost = data[i].monthlyCost; // Grab state status var status = data[i].status; // Find the corresponding state inside the GeoJSON for (var j = 0; j { const rateChange = d.properties.rateChange; // const metricValue = metricDataByState[stateIdAccessor(d)] if (rateChange == “0”) { return “lightgray” } else { return colorScale(rateChange * 100) } }) .on(“mouseover”, function (d) { var rateChange = d.properties.rateChange; var averageCost = d.properties.monthlyCost; var tooltipState = d.properties.state; var status = d.properties.status; tooltip.transition() .duration(200) .style(“opacity”, .9) // .attr(“classed”, “stateHover”); // div.text(tooltipState) if (status === “Approved”) { tooltip.html(tooltipState + “
” + “2021 rate change: ” + Math.round(rateChange * 10000) / 100 + “% ” + ‘(Approved)’ + “
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Obamacare Subsidies for Low-Income Michigan Residents

Eighty-seven percent of Obamacare enrollees in Michigan received subsidies in 2019.8 Subsidies (called premium tax credits) lower your monthly payment on Marketplace plans.

You qualify if your income meets the federal poverty level (FPL), which is based on your household size. For example, a family of three earning between $21,720 and $86,880 in 2020 (100% to 400% of the FPL) can qualify.9

The average subsidy among Michigan enrollees was $388 in 2019.

Michigan’s Medicaid Program for Low-Income Adults and Children

Medicaid is a public health insurance program for certain low-income individuals. About two in seven Michiganders earn less than $24,980 as of October 2019 (200% of the FPL).10

Among Michigan’s 9.7 million residents, just over one fifth have Medicaid, or about 2.1 million enrollees. The majority of them are children 18 and younger and adults 19 to 64.11

Others who qualify for Medicaid in Michigan include:

  • Pregnant women 
  • Low-income families 
  • Individuals under 21
  • Adults 65 and older
  • Childless adults who gained eligibility under Medicaid expansion
  • Parents and caretakers of minor children 
  • Individuals who are blind or have disabilities

Each group has different income limits to qualify, for instance, childless adults and parents can earn up to 138% of the FPL ($17,609 for an individual in 2020). 12

Michigan’s Children’s Health Insurance Program 

MIChild is the name of Michigan’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). It covers uninsured children under 19 from low-income working families. Children get comprehensive health insurance that includes medical, dental, vision, and mental health care.

Families pay $10 per month to cover all enrolled children. There are no copayments for care. The maximum income to qualify is 212% of the FPL ($36,548 for a family of two in 2020).13

Michigan Medicare Plans for Seniors and Adults With Disabilities

Most Michigan residents who qualify for Medicare are 65 and older.14 Others are younger adults with disabilities. More than 2 million residents have Medicare as of 2018.

About two in three enrollees get Original Medicare from the federal government. Others have private Medicare Advantage plans. Both options provide Part A hospital and Part B medical insurance.

You typically get Part D prescription drug coverage with Medicare Advantage. But companies also sell individual Part D plans, which are usually paired with Original Medicare. About 1.1 million Michigan beneficiaries bought these plans in 2018.15

You can also add a Medicare Supplement plan (or Medigap) to Original Medicare. Michigan offers 10 standard plans that cover out-of-pocket costs.

Buying Short-Term Health Insurance in Michigan

If you find yourself temporarily without insurance, consider a short-term health plan in the Great Lakes State. These plans are helpful for situations such as when:

You can get short-term coverage for up to 185 days in a 12-month period. Plans offer basic benefits, such as hospitalization, doctor visits, and urgent care. But they’re not the same as major medical coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Benefits like maternity care, mental health services, and medications you fill at a pharmacy are not usually covered. Plus, short-term plans typically don’t cover preexisting conditions. You can also be denied a policy based on your health status.

Before you enroll, make sure you understand the policy’s limitations and exclusions. Michigan offers a variety of health insurance plans. So compare all your options to find the best fit for your needs.

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  1. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid & Services. “2020 Federal Health Insurance Exchange Enrollment Period Final Weekly Enrollment Snapshot”. CMS.gov (accessed January 29,  2020).

  2. Kaiser Family Foundation. “Marketplace Effectuated Enrollment and Financial Assistance.” KFF.org (accessed January 28, 2020).

  3. Advisory Board. “Where the states stand on Medicaid expansion.” Advisory.com January 13, 2020. (accessed January 29, 2020).

  4. Kaiser Family Foundation. “Medicaid in Michigan.” KFF.org (accessed January 28, 2020).

  5. Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. “2020 Marketplace Health Insurance Premiums.” Michigan.gov/difs (accessed January 29, 2020).

  6. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid & Services. “2020 Federal Health Insurance Exchange Enrollment Period Final Weekly Enrollment Snapshot”. CMS.gov (accessed January 29,  2020).

  7. ACA Sign Ups. “Michigan: Approved avg. 2021 #ACA premiums: up 1.1% indy mkt, 1.4% sm. group.” acasignups.net (accessed October 28, 2020).

  8. Kaiser Family Foundation. “Marketplace Effectuated Enrollment and Financial Assistance.” KFF.org (accessed January 28, 2020).

  9. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. “HHS Poverty Guidelines for 2020”. aspe.hhs.gov (accessed January 28, 2020).

  10. Kaiser Family Foundation. “Medicaid in Michigan.” KFF.org (accessed January 28, 2020).

  11. Advisory Board. “Where the states stand on Medicaid expansion.” Advisory.com January 13, 2020. (accessed January 29, 2020).

  12. Kaiser Family Foundation. “Medicaid in Michigan.” KFF.org (accessed January 28, 2020); U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. “HHS Poverty Guidelines for 2020”. aspe.hhs.gov (accessed January 28, 2020).

  13. National Academy for State Health Policy. “Michigan 2019 CHIP Fact Sheet.” NASHP.org (accessed January 29, 2020); U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. “HHS Poverty Guidelines for 2020”. aspe.hhs.gov (accessed January 28, 2020).

  14. Kaiser Family Foundation. Distribution of Medicare Beneficiaries by Eligibility Category.” KFF.org (accessed January 28, 2020).

  15. Kaiser Family Foundation. “Medicare Prescription Drug Plans: Stand Alone PDP Enrollment.” KFF.org (accessed January 28, 2020).

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