.svg){kind=logo}
What You Need to Know
Sign-ups for 2022 individual coverage start on November 1, 2021 and end January 15, 2022.
Ten insurers offer plans on and off the federal health insurance marketplace in 2022.
Average Obamacare premiums in Michigan are among the lowest in the country.
Ten Michigan carriers offer Marketplace plans in 2022. Average premium rates are slightly higher.
Michigan Health Insurance Overview
Michigan has a robust individual health insurance market for 2022. More than 267,000 residents are enrolled in private Marketplace plans.1 Monthly premiums in Michigan are lower than most states. About 85% of enrollees get tax-credit subsidies that save money on premiums.2
Residents also have access to affordable health insurance through Medicaid and Medicare. More than 2 million Michiganders are enrolled in Medicare, and less than 1 million receive Medicaid benefits.
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 337,000 in 2020.7
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, more than 850,000 receive coverage through The Healthy Michigan Plan, the state’s expanded Medicaid program.4
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.
Michigan Health Insurance Marketplace
Michigan residents use the federal Marketplace (Healthcare.gov) for enrollment in qualified health plans. Nearly, 267,000 residents bought Marketplace coverage during the 2021 enrollment period.6
The 2022 Open Enrollment Period starts on November 1, 2021, and ends on January 15, 2022. Coverage begins on January 1, 2022.
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, 2022.
Help with Premiums
Michigan residents who enrolled in Obamacare got an average subsidy of $364 in 2020.
Health Insurance Companies In Michigan
Ten Michigan health insurance companies sell plans on the exchange for 2022. Plans available include bronze, expanded bronze, silver, gold, and catastrophic. Not all companies offer each plan type, and options vary by region.
- Blue Care Network of Michigan
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
- McLaren Health Plan Community
- Meridian Health Plan of Michigan
- Molina Healthcare of Michigan
- Oscar Insurance Company
- Physicians Health Plan
- Priority Health
- United Healthcare Community Plan (new)
- U.S. Health and Life Insurance Company (new)
Health Insurance Costs in Michigan
Marketplace premiums in Michigan are among the lowest in the country. The average benchmark premium in Michigan for 2021 is $347 a month compared to $452 for the U.S. average. The benchmark premium is based on the second-lowest-cost silver plan.
Premiums fell slightly in 2021 among silver and gold plans. Here’s a look at the average monthly premiums in Michigan from 2019 to 2021:
- Average lowest-cost bronze premium: $255 in 2019; $251 in 2020; $255 in 2021
- Average lowest-cost silver premium: $367 in 2019; $348 in 2020; $340 in 2021
- Average lowest-cost gold premium: $400 in 2019; $382 in 2020; $370 in 2021
Snippet Render Is Present – D3 cannot be loaded in editor mode. Go to preview or publish mode.
Average Rate Changes
Obamacare Subsidies for Low-Income Michigan Residents
Eighty-five percent of Obamacare enrollees in Michigan received subsidies in 2020.8 Subsidies (called premium tax credits) lower your monthly payment on Marketplace plans.
Before 2021, if you earned between one to four times of the federal poverty level, you were eligible for subsidies to help you pay for any metal plan.
In 2021, the federal government expanded subsidies and removed the income cap for premium tax credits. Instead, you would pay no more than 8.5% of your annual household income on health insurance based on the price of the benchmark plan. The federal government would cover the balance through subsidies.
The average subsidy among Michigan enrollees was $364 in 2020.
Michigan’s Medicaid Program for Low-Income Adults and Children
Among Michigan’s 9.7 million residents, just over one-fifth have Medicaid, or nearly 1.5 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 ($12,880 for an individual in 2021). 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 ($36,930 for a family of two in 2021).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 2020.
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. More than 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’ve missed the annual enrollment period for Obamacare
- You’re in between jobs
- You’re waiting for benefits to start at a new job
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.
