Michigan
Cheapest ACA plans in Michigan for 2026
Cheapest Bronze plan in Michigan, before subsidies: Blue Care Network of Michigan Blue Cross® Local HMO Bronze Secure in Macomb County at $345/month for a 40-year-old; Blue Care Network of Michigan Blue Cross® Local HMO Bronze Secure in Macomb County at $1,104/month for a family of four (two 40-year-olds and two kids under 14). Michigan uses Healthcare.gov, expanded Medicaid in 2014 via the Healthy Michigan Plan, and relies on federal APTC with no state premium wraparound.
Cheapest plans by metal tier
Lowest 2026 monthly premium for a single 40-year-old, on-exchange, before any subsidy. Per-age figures derived from the CMS QHP Landscape file using the HHS standardized age-rating curve (45 CFR 147.102).
| Tier | Cheapest age 40 monthly | Plans statewide |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze | $345 | 524 |
| Catastrophic | $351 | 226 |
| Expanded Bronze | $356 | 627 |
| Silver | $385 | 1,220 |
| Gold | $409 | 786 |
The actual cheapest plan in major counties
Same data the search returns: carrier, plan name, monthly premium, individual deductible, individual MOOP. Computed for a single 40-year-old, before any subsidy. Catastrophic plans excluded because adults 30+ typically need a hardship-exemption certificate to enroll.
Wayne County
$349/moBlue Care Network of Michigan · Blue Cross® Local HMO Bronze Secure
Oakland County
$345/moBlue Care Network of Michigan · Blue Cross® Local HMO Bronze Secure
Macomb County
$345/moBlue Care Network of Michigan · Blue Cross® Local HMO Bronze Secure
Kent County
$356/moOscar Insurance Company · Bronze Classic Standard
Genesee County
$381/moUnitedHealthcare · UHC Bronze Essential (No Referrals)
Washtenaw County
$421/moBlue Care Network of Michigan · Blue Cross® Select HMO Bronze Secure
The actual cheapest plan for a family of four
Two 40-year-old adults and two kids in the 0-14 age band, before any subsidy. Carrier, plan name, premium, deductible, and MOOP exactly as the search would return them.
Wayne County
$1,115/moBlue Care Network of Michigan · Blue Cross® Local HMO Bronze Secure
Oakland County
$1,104/moBlue Care Network of Michigan · Blue Cross® Local HMO Bronze Secure
Macomb County
$1,104/moBlue Care Network of Michigan · Blue Cross® Local HMO Bronze Secure
Kent County
$1,139/moOscar Insurance Company · Bronze Classic Standard
Genesee County
$1,218/moUnitedHealthcare · UHC Bronze Essential (No Referrals)
Washtenaw County
$1,347/moBlue Care Network of Michigan · Blue Cross® Select HMO Bronze Secure
Subsidies: federal APTC only (no state premium subsidy)
Michigan does not fund a supplemental state premium subsidy or §1332 reinsurance waiver. Marketplace help is federal only:
- Federal Advance Premium Tax Credit (APTC). Households 100-400% FPL on the PY2026 standard ACA contribution curve. The ARPA / IRA enhanced subsidies expired 2025-12-31 and are not in effect for 2026, so the hard 400% FPL cliff is back.
- Federal cost-sharing reductions (CSRs). Households 100-250% FPL enrolled in a Silver plan receive reduced deductibles, copays, and out-of-pocket maximums automatically.
Michigan expanded Medicaid effective April 2014 via the Healthy Michigan Plan. Adults 19-64 up to 138% FPL qualify regardless of parental status or disability, so there is no coverage gap in Michigan.
Catastrophic plans in Michigan follow federal rules
Michigan follows the federal ACA default: Catastrophic plans are available to enrollees under age 30, or at any age with a hardship / affordability exemption. The PY2026 federal auto-expansion applies: adults 30+ automatically qualify when the lowest-cost Bronze plan exceeds the affordability threshold. APTC does not apply to Catastrophic plans.
Tobacco surcharges follow the federal 1.5x default in Michigan
Michigan applies the federal ACA default (45 CFR 147.102): carriers may charge tobacco users up to 50% more than non-users (a 1.5-to-1 rate ratio). The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) reviews rate filings under MCL Chapter 500. No Michigan-specific cap below the federal 1.5x ceiling has been identified. Federal APTC does not offset the tobacco portion of the premium.
Carriers selling 2026 plans in Michigan
7 carriers sell 2026 plans on Healthcare.gov; 2 additional carriers offer off-exchange-only plans (not subsidy-eligible). 6,221 plans across 83 counties. Michigan has one of the more competitive individual markets. BlueCross BlueShield of Michigan anchors the statewide individual market across all 83 counties, with its Blue Care Network HMO subsidiary in 31 counties. Priority Health competes broadly (strong in west Michigan). McLaren Health Plan, Meridian Choice (Centene), UnitedHealthcare, and Oscar compete in select metros and regions.
| Carrier | On-exchange plans | Counties |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Care Network of Michigan | 924 | 83 |
| BlueCross BlueShield of Michigan | 732 | 83 |
| Priority Health | 729 | 70 |
| McLaren Health Plan Community | 540 | 60 |
| Meridian Health Plan of Michigan | 270 | 48 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 156 | 30 |
| Oscar | 32 | 4 |
Also selling off-exchange only
These carriers sell plans directly (not through Healthcare.gov). Off-exchange plans are not eligible for federal APTC or state subsidies.
| Carrier | Off-exchange plans |
|---|---|
| Health Alliance Plan of Michigan | 567 |
| Alliance Health and Life Insurance Company | 490 |
Enrollment
Open Enrollment for 2026 coverage runs November 1, 2025 through January 15, 2026. Enroll by December 15 for a January 1 effective date; December 16 through January 15 takes effect February 1. Special Enrollment is available year-round for qualifying life events.
Direct enrollment: healthcare.gov.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest ACA plan in Michigan for 2026?
The cheapest Bronze-tier plan a 40-year-old can enroll in without paperwork is Blue Care Network of Michigan Blue Cross® Local HMO Bronze Secure in Macomb County at $345 per month before subsidies. Data refreshed 2026-04-19T08:08:55.462Z.
Does Michigan use Healthcare.gov?
Yes. Michigan participates in the federally-facilitated Marketplace (FFM), so enrollment and subsidy applications run through healthcare.gov. Michigan does not operate a state-based exchange.
Has Michigan expanded Medicaid?
Yes, effective April 2014, via the Healthy Michigan Plan. Adults 19-64 with income up to 138% FPL qualify regardless of parental status or disability, so there is no coverage gap in Michigan.
What is the Healthy Michigan Plan?
The Healthy Michigan Plan is Michigan’s ACA Medicaid expansion, covering adults 19-64 up to 138% FPL. It launched April 1, 2014 under legislation signed by Gov. Rick Snyder. Eligibility follows the standard ACA 138% FPL threshold.
Which carriers offer Michigan plans on Healthcare.gov?
Michigan has one of the more competitive individual markets among FFM states. For PY2026 expect Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network (dominant statewide), Priority Health (strong in west Michigan), Health Alliance Plan, McLaren, Meridian (Centene), Oscar, Alliance Health and Life, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, with coverage varying by county. Molina, Ambetter (Celtic), and US Health and Life (Ascension) exited the MI individual market for PY2026.
Does Michigan have a state premium subsidy on top of federal APTC?
No. Michigan does not fund a state premium assistance program or §1332 reinsurance waiver. The only financial help for Marketplace enrollees is federal APTC and CSRs, and the ARPA/IRA enhanced credits expired at the end of 2025.
Compare Michigan with other states
- Ohio (shares a border)
- Indiana (shares a border)
- Wisconsin (shares a border)
- See all 51 jurisdictions side by side
Browse county pages in Michigan
County-level pricing pages with the cheapest plan in each county.
Browse city pages in Michigan
City-level pricing pages for major Michigan cities.
Carriers in Michigan
Per-carrier 2026 pricing pages with the cheapest plan from each carrier.
Sources
- HealthCare.gov for enrollment, OEP dates, and federal APTC / CSR application.
- Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) for rate review, carrier filings, and consumer guidance.
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services: Healthy Michigan Plan for Healthy Michigan Plan eligibility and enrollment.
- KFF: Michigan State Health Facts for Medicaid expansion, enrollment, and benchmark premium context.
- CMS 2026 OEP National Snapshot for federal Marketplace enrollment context.
- CMS QHP Landscape Individual Medical 2026 for plan availability, premiums, and metal tiers.
Plan year 2026, last refreshed 2026-04-19T08:08:55.462Z. Full pricing pipeline + regulatory references at methodology; ACA terminology in the glossary.