▶Watch: Private PPO vs. ACA Marketplace — which is right for you? (50 sec)
Can you still get private health insurance in Michigan? Yes — but 2026 is a transition year. Three carriers exited Michigan's individual market, roughly 200,000 residents must pick new plans, 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, statewide.
Open enrollment for 2027 HealthCare.gov coverage in Michigan runs November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027. Enroll by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1; enroll by January 15 for a February 1 start. Plans, prices, and networks change by ZIP code, so we quote every marketplace plan at your address, check your 2027 premium tax credit, and enroll you at no cost.
For 2026, Michigan's individual market includes Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Blue Care Network, Priority Health, McLaren Health Plan, Oscar — which actually lowered rates about 3% — and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan. Exiting: HAP CareSource, Molina, and Physicians Health Plan/U-M Health Plan, with Meridian/Ambetter leaving Metro Detroit.
Carriers, networks, and hospital access differ sharply between metros. Start with your area:
Henry Ford, Corewell, DMC, Ascension St. John, Michigan Medicine & Karmanos — and what the 2026 carrier exits mean for Metro Detroit.
Corewell/Medical Mile, Trinity Saint Mary's, U-M Health-West, Helen DeVos Children's — with hometown carrier Priority Health.
With the enhanced federal subsidies expired and rates up sharply, many Michigan 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 Michiganders — 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.
A question we hear constantly from Michigan shoppers: which health insurance plans cover University of Michigan Health (Michigan Medicine) in Ann Arbor? It got harder for 2026, when U-M Health Plan exited Michigan's individual market — and many remaining marketplace plans use narrower HMO-style networks that may not include University Hospital or its specialists.
Michigan Medicine's flagship hospital — consistently ranked among the top hospitals in Michigan and the nation.
Rogel Cancer Center, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, and the Kellogg Eye Center — destination care for complex conditions.
Nationally ranked pediatric care on the Ann Arbor medical campus.
We work with a range of private PPO plans — employer-level group PPOs and other exclusive plans generally not published online — on PPO networks that can include University of Michigan Health in Ann Arbor. Tell us U-M Health access matters to you and we will shop the private health insurance options that include it, then confirm network status for your exact plan before you apply.
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 Michigan 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.
Between 55 and 65 and not on Medicare yet? Early retirees in Michigan, people between jobs, and anyone whose spouse is moving to Medicare can compare private PPO, ACA, and COBRA options side by side in our guide to health insurance before Medicare.
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 should actively pick a new plan rather than accepting an auto-assignment — networks differ sharply between carriers, and the default plan 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.
It depends on the specific plan, not just the carrier. U-M Health Plan left Michigan's individual market for 2026, and many remaining marketplace plans use narrower networks. Private PPO plans — employer-level group PPOs and other exclusive plans — can include University of Michigan Health (Michigan Medicine) in Ann Arbor for those who qualify. We confirm network status for your exact plan before you enroll.
Marketplace and off-exchange ACA plans: during the annual fall open enrollment period, or year-round within 60 days of a qualifying life event. Employer-level ERISA group plans: enrollment is open year-round for those who qualify. We also have other exclusive, proprietary private healthcare PPO plan options beyond what is published online. Contact us for specific details.
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 Michigan ZIP Code
Free comparison from a licensed advisor — marketplace, off-exchange, and employer-level coverage buy-in options.
Call (800) 939-3330 Get My Plan Options
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.
