Can you still get private health insurance in Detroit? Yes — but 2026 is a transition year for Metro Detroit, and hundreds of thousands of Michiganders have to make a choice. Three carriers exited Michigan's individual market this year, Meridian/Ambetter pulled out of Metro Detroit specifically, and statewide rates rose about 20.1% on average — right as the enhanced federal subsidies expired. If your plan was discontinued or your subsidy shrank, comparing every option now is worth real money. We compare private medical plans side by side with HealthCare.gov marketplace coverage — here is how the Detroit market actually looks this year.
For 2026, the Detroit market includes Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Blue Care Network, Priority Health, McLaren Health Plan, Oscar — which actually lowered rates about 3% this year — and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan. Exiting the market: HAP CareSource, Molina, and Physicians Health Plan/U-M Health Plan, with Meridian/Ambetter leaving Metro Detroit.
If your 2025 plan was discontinued, you are in a special position: you must actively pick a new plan, and defaulting to whatever you are auto-assigned can quietly cost you your doctors. That is exactly the comparison we do, free.
Metro Detroit's hospital systems each play a distinct role, and network access varies sharply by plan:
The Detroit flagship system — nationally recognized cardiology, transplant, and neuroscience programs.
The former Beaumont hospitals — the largest system in Southeast Michigan, from Royal Oak to Dearborn.
Downtown's academic campus including Harper, Receiving, and Children's Hospital of Michigan.
East-side anchor hospitals with deep community roots across the metro.
U-M's top-ranked academic center in Ann Arbor, and Karmanos — the region's NCI-designated cancer center.
Whether these systems are in your network depends entirely on which plan you choose — and it changes year to year, especially in a transition year like this one. Before you enroll, we verify your doctors and preferred hospitals against each plan's current network so there are no surprises.
With the enhanced federal subsidies expired and rates up sharply, many Detroit households are paying full price for the first time. Your exact premium depends on your age, ZIP code, and household size — which is why we quote every carrier and every route to coverage before recommending anything.
Traditional marketplace and off-exchange plans are not the only route. Many Detroiters — especially the self-employed, independent contractors, and small-business owners — also qualify for true employer-level group coverage regulated under federal ERISA and Department of Labor rules. Qualifying as a bona fide employee takes only a few basic requirements — full-time work is not required — and pre-existing conditions are covered, just as with any employer group plan. You get the same kind of group PPO coverage large employers offer, with nationwide networks like Cigna, Multiplan/PHCS, Aetna, First Choice Health, and in some states Blue Cross with national Blue Card, and enrollment is open year-round, not just during open enrollment. Availability is subject to eligibility. Call us to see if you qualify.
The honest answer: it depends on your subsidy. If you qualify for a meaningful premium tax credit, a marketplace plan through HealthCare.gov is usually the better value. If you get little or no subsidy — the situation many Detroit households found themselves in after the enhanced credits expired at the end of 2025 — an off-exchange private medical plan or employer-level group coverage frequently wins on network, price, or both. A five-minute comparison settles it, and our service is free either way.
Yes. Beyond on- and off-exchange marketplace plans, we also offer exclusive private, employer-group (ERISA) PPO options with nationwide networks like Cigna, Multiplan/PHCS, Aetna, First Choice Health, and in some states Blue Cross with national Blue Card. These plans aren’t published on the public marketplace, enrollment is open year-round, and availability is subject to eligibility. Call us to see if you qualify.
You qualify to pick a new plan, and you should do it actively rather than accepting an auto-assignment. Networks differ sharply between carriers, and the plan you are defaulted into may not include your doctors. We compare your options free.
Yes. Every ACA-compliant private plan covers pre-existing conditions — no medical questions, no exclusions. ERISA employer-level group plans cover pre-existing conditions as well, just as with any employer coverage.
Network access to Metro Detroit's major systems depends on the specific plan, and it changes year to year — especially in a transition year. We verify your doctors and hospitals against each plan's current network before you enroll.
No. Premiums are identical with or without an agent — carriers pay us, not you. You get the comparison and enrollment help at no cost.
Compare Every Private Health Plan Available at Your Detroit ZIP Code
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Plus exclusive, proprietary private healthcare PPO options generally not published online — click Get My Plan Options or call us for details.
Rate change figures are 2026 weighted averages from Michigan regulatory filings; premiums vary by age, ZIP code, and household size. Employer-level group plan availability subject to eligibility requirements.
