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Michigan Health Insurance Companies
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Michigan Health Insurance Options
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How to Get the Most Savings
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Michigan Health Insurance FAQS
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How to Enroll in Health Insurance in Michigan
Michigan Health Insurance Companies
Michigan has a dozen health insurance providers with a large variety of plans available. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular ones.
Priority Health
According to the National Committee for Quality Assurance, Priority Health is one of the top insurance companies in the state. They offer both HMO and POS plans.
Priority Health has a large provider network spread throughout the state and plans with superior preventative care coverage. Priority Health is great for families, and everyone who needs coverage for cancer screenings or other preventive care.
Blue Care Network of Michigan
Blue Care Network of Michigan is owned by Blue Cross Blue Shield. With access to approximately 6,300 primary care doctors, more than 26,400 specialists, and 132 Michigan hospitals across all 83 counties, BCN offers the largest networks in Michigan. BCN is one of only two HMO insurers in Michigan that serves the Upper Peninsula.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) offers a variety of plans. You can choose a plan from their different tiers to find the one that provides the most value for you in terms of coverage and cost. A number of PPO health plans are available from BCBSM, some of which include dental and vision coverage.
Health Insurance Marketplace in Michigan
If you’re looking for health insurance in Michigan, the health insurance Marketplace is a great place to start. Marketplace health insurance, which was created by the Affordable Care Act, offers certain consumer protections, guarantees coverage for pre-existing conditions, and includes coverage for what are known as the “10 essential health benefits”:
- Ambulatory patient services (outpatient care)
- Emergency services
- Hospitalization
- Pregnancy, maternity, and newborn care (both before and after birth)
- Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment (including counseling and psychotherapy)
- Prescription drugs
- Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices
- Laboratory services
- Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management
- Pediatric services, including oral and vision care (but adult dental and vision coverage aren’t essential health benefits)
The ACA-compliant plans offered on the Marketplace are divided into different types, known as metal tiers: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. These tiers do not signal a difference in quality of care, though. The tiers differ in your out-of-pocket costs versus what your plan covers.
It’s important to remember that the Marketplace only offers the plans of participating providers. So unfortunately, while the Marketplace is a great tool, you may not be able to compare every plan available to you.
Whether you want a Marketplace plan, or a plan from a private insurer, an EZ agent can help. We work with all carriers in your state to compare all options available.
Over half of the uninsured in Michigan who qualify for Marketplace insurance coverage could get a Bronze plan for FREE.
Michigan’s Short Term Health Insurance Guidelines
If you’ve missed the health insurance Open Enrollment Period (OEP) or need health insurance for a short amount of time, short-term plans are a great option. It’s important to note, though, that these policies tend to only cover the basics, and you can be denied one of these plans if you have a pre-existing condition.
There are some rules around short-term plans, though, both at the federal and the state level. Some states choose to have their own guidelines separate from federal guidelines, or not offer short-term plans at all. In Michigan, you can have a short-term plan for up to 185 days. You cannot renew your plan, and you can’t purchase more than one short-term plan in a 365-day period.
Michigan Health Insurance Options
Looking for a health insurance plan can be stressful. But you have options, and there are resources available to you.
One great resource might actually be your employer. Speak to them to see if they offer a group plan, since these plans can cover you and your family, and tend to be less expensive than private health insurance. While employers in Michigan are not required to offer health insurance to their employees, the majority of businesses do provide some kind of health insurance benefit.
If you qualify, government-sponsored programs are another great option to look into. Medicare provides low-cost insurance to people 65 or older, or to anyone between the ages of 18 and 65 who has a qualified disability. Another government program is Medicaid, which is for lower-income individuals and families. You can get coverage for free if you meet the income requirements.
One of your best resources when it comes to finding the best health insurance for you, though, is an agent. EZ agents are fully qualified and trained to evaluate all of your available plan options. To make sure you have the coverage you need, they compare plans while taking into account all of your medical and financial needs.
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How to Get the Most Savings
Michigan is the least expensive state in terms of healthcare spending per capita. With an average yearly spending of $9,524 per person, they are ranked 50th out of the 50 states. Even if your health care is on the more affordable end of the spectrum, there are still ways for you to save money.
Insurance companies take the following factors into account when determining your premiums:
Body mass index (BMI) – Your general health – especially your BMI – is one of the things that health insurance companies take into account. Adults in Michigan have an obesity rate of 36%, so if you are in that percentage, you might be paying more for your health insurance. Maintaining a healthy weight could help you get the best prices on insurance.
Smoking – Smoking is another thing that can affect your health and your insurance premiums. Smoking leads to numerous health issues, meaning insurance providers will see you as a significant risk to insure. In Michigan, 17% of adults smoke, and if you’re among them, your premiums could be 50% more expensive than those of non-smoking people. Quitting will help keep your health insurance premiums lower, while also helping to keep you healthy.
Location – Your premiums are also influenced by where you live. You can save a ton of money by relocating to a region with more medical providers. Some of the places with the lowest premiums are Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren, and Sterling Heights. So, whether you’re considering moving to Michigan or already reside here but intend to move soon, research which areas might have lower premiums.
With all of that being said, the quickest and simplest way to save money is to work with an insurance agent. In fact, EZ agents can help you cut your health insurance premiums by hundreds of dollars annually. We do this by learning about your needs and budget, researching all of your options, and finding any local discounts you may be eligible for. And all of our services are free!
Michigan Health Insurance FAQS
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Does Michigan require you to have health insurance?
While technically the ACA does still say citizens are required to have coverage, there is no longer a federal tax penalty for not having insurance. Some states require it, but Michigan is not one of them, so you do not need to have insurance in Michigan (but you should!).
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What is the cheapest health insurance in Michigan?
The cheapest health plan will be a Bronze plan, which can start as low as $255 a month. Remember, though, health insurance plan prices can vary depending on age, zip code, gender, and other factors.
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How much does health insurance cost in Michigan?
The average monthly premium for health insurance in Michigan is $410, or $4,920 per year, with plans as low as $255 a month to as high as $1,078.
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Which insurers offer plans in Michigan?
The top 10 insurers in your state are 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, and U.S. Health and Life Insurance Company.
How to Enroll in Health Insurance in Michigan
You can sign up for a health insurance plan in Michigan in a few different ways. Michigan uses the federal exchange, so you can visit the Health Insurance Marketplace to compare plans from insurers in the state. Additionally, you can enroll directly on the website of your selected carrier. Another choice is to sign up through your employer if they offer a group plan; this only involves selecting a plan and providing some details.
An EZ agent can assist you whether you enroll through the exchange, directly from an insurance company, or through your employer! To ensure you’re selecting the best option, an EZ agent can help you compare plans. We can locate any discounts or programs you’re eligible for, as well as provide answers to your questions, and then help you through the enrollment process. It can be difficult to enroll in health insurance; let an EZ agent alleviate your worries and get you the coverage you need.
If you still have questions, feel free to give us a call at 877-670-3557. When you call, you will be directly connected to a local insurance agent who can answer all of your questions and help you find the health insurance plan that works best for you.
