Updated: September 5, 2024
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Best Health InsuranceMichiganBest Health Insurance in Michigan
Why Trust MoneyGeek? We downloaded plan data for Michigan directly from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). MoneyGeek’s scoring methodology balances costs, claims approval and plan types to find the best providers in the state.
Plan data was updated with the CMS exchange data released in October 2023 for the 2024 enrollment period.
Ambetter has a MoneyGeek score of 75, making it the best health insurance provider in Michigan. Ambetter offers affordable plans with low maximum out-of-pocket expenses, meaning people don't have to pay as much for medical services. Plus, Ambetter is better than most at not denying insurance claims.
For our analysis, we looked at 62 Silver health insurance plans in Michigan, including EPO, HMO and PPO plans.
Affordable premium rates
Low out-of-pocket costs
Fewer denied claims
Limited variety of plan types available
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Michigan is Ambetter. The provider offers nine Silver HMO plans.
This provider charges an average monthly premium of $399. The average MOOP cost for these plans is $7,711, which is relatively affordable. Ambetter also has a denial rate of about 15%, lower than most of the competition.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following Silver plans from Ambetter:
Ambetter is the best health insurance in Michigan for low out-of-pocket costs, with a MoneyGeek score of 71 out of 100. In addition to low out-of-pocket costs, this provider offers affordable plan options and has a better-than-average claims-approval rate.
MoneyGeek evaluated 40 Gold plan options across different types in Michigan for this analysis.
Few claims denied
Low out-of-pocket costs
Multiple plan types offered
Limited plan options available
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Michigan for low out-of-pocket costs is Ambetter. This insurer offers nine Gold plans at an average monthly premium of $477 and an average MOOP expense of $7,456. Note that Gold plans tend to have higher premiums than Silver plans but lower costs when you pay for medical services.
If you need to use doctors outside of Ambetter's network, it's good to remember that PPO or POS plans usually cover more of those costs. Ambetter also has a lower denial rate than most of the competition at 15%. This means if you send them bills for your doctor visits, there's a good chance they'll agree to pay them.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following Gold plans:
Ambetter is the best cheap provider of cheap health insurance in Michigan, with a MoneyGeek score of 78 out of 100. Ambetter has lower-than-average premiums, out-of-pocket costs and claim-denial rates.
MoneyGeek evaluated 62 Silver plans in Michigan. These included four Silver EPO plans, 55 Silver HMO plans and three Silver PPO plans. For this ranking, we focused on plans with lower monthly premiums. However, remember that plans costing less each month may have higher out-of-pocket costs.
Low out-of-pocket costs
Few claims denied
Limited plan types available
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best cheap health insurance in Michigan is Ambetter. It provides nine Silver plans, which means lots of choices for people looking for health care that balances monthly costs with coverages. The average monthly premium for these plans is $414, and the average MOOP expense is $7,711. Ambetter also has a claims-denial rate of 15%, lower than most of the competition.
These Silver plans from Ambetter are all HMO plans. Note that HMO plans usually require that you choose a primary doctor and stay in-network for the lowest costs.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following cheap Silver plans:
Ambetter is the best health insurance in Michigan for those with low income, scoring 78 out of 100. This provider has lower-than-average rates for plans, out-of-pocket costs and claim denials.
MoneyGeek evaluated Silver plans in Michigan to find the best coverage with low income, including four EPO plans, 55 HMO plans and three PPO plans. These plans are all eligible for cost-sharing reductions (CSRs).
MoneyGeek focused on plans with low monthly premiums and included only those with cost-sharing reductions. Cost-sharing reductions mean if your income is a certain percentage of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), you don't have to choose between paying less each month and paying more when you go to the doctor. Normal Silver plans usually pay for 70% of health care costs, but with cost-sharing reductions, you might get more paid for. Here's how it works for different annual incomes:
Note that the amount of money you have to make to qualify for these benefits changes depending on the number of people in your household.
Low premium rates
Minimal out-of-pocket costs
Frequent claim approvals
Limited plan variety
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Michigan for those with low incomes is Ambetter. This provider offers cost-effective plans for those earning below 250% of the FPL. The provider has nine Silver plans that qualify for CSRs, with an average rate of $414 per month and an average MOOP cost of $6,556.
Ambetter does not offer PPO or POS plans, but EPO plans typically have lower monthly premiums. The company's denial rate is 15%, which means the company approves claims more frequently than competitors.
Plan Recommendations
With CSRs, Ambetter's Silver plans have lower out-of-pocket expenses for the same premium for people in different income brackets. Here are some of the lower overall out-of-pocket costs based on income levels:
Physicians Health Plan offers the best health insurance in Michigan for young adults, with a MoneyGeek score of 72 out of 100. The provider has plans with low premiums and out-of-pocket costs, along with better-than-average claim denial rates.
In MoneyGeek's analysis for this category, we evaluated seven Bronze plans, 54 Expanded Bronze plans and six Catastrophic plans for young adults in Michigan. Note that only individuals under the age of 30 can purchase Catastrophic coverage.
Excellent premium affordability
Low out-of-pocket maximum costs
Few claims denied
Average variety of plan types available
Physicians Health Plan is MoneyGeek's top pick for young adults seeking health insurance in Michigan. Because they typically require fewer medical services, many young opt for plans with lower coverage levels and more affordable premiums. This provider offers an average plan rate of $263 and an average maximum out-of-pocket cost of $8,613.
Physicians Health Plan has three Expanded Bronze plans and one Catastrophic plan available as HMOs. HMO plans usually require choosing a primary care physician and getting referrals for specialist services. Note that Physicians Health Plan does not offer PPO or POS plans. The company's denial rate is 18%, lower than most of the competition, though not as low as Ambetter.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following Physicians Health plans for young adults:
Health insurance companies offer different kinds of plans. Michigan has a few Silver plans of each type, including 55 Silver HMO plans, three Silver PPO plans and four Silver EPO plans. The best providers for all plan categories in the state are:
These recommendations only include Silver plans. Silver plans balance premiums and out-of-pocket costs and are ideal for people who want coverage for a moderate amount of medical services.
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Michigan for Silver PPO plans is Blue Cross Blue Shield. This company offers three Silver PPO plans at an average plan rate of $590 and an average maximum out-of-pocket cost of $8,555. The provider has a denial rate of 17%, meaning they deny an average number of claims.
Silver PPO plans let you pick your own doctor and see specialists without needing a referral. They're popular but cost more than some other plan types. PPO plans are well-suited to people who want to choose their providers and are okay with paying a bit more for that choice.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends these Silver PPO plans from Blue Cross Blue Shield:
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Michigan for Silver EPO plans is Oscar, which provides four different EPO plans at an average plan rate of $392 monthly and an average MOOP cost of $8,938. Oscar has a denial rate of 12%, which means they deny fewer claims than average.
Silver EPO plans allow you to see specialists without always needing a referral but require that you choose doctors in the plan's network unless it's an emergency. While EPOs are less common than other plans, they work well for many people.
Plan Recommendations
We recommend these Silver EPO plans from Oscar:
MoneyGeek's pick for the best health insurance in Michigan for Silver HMO plans is Ambetter. The company offers nine Silver plans, with an average monthly premium of $414 and MOOP of $7,711. The company has a denial rate of 15%, which is lower than average and shows that it denies fewer claims than some competitors.
Silver HMO plans tend to be more affordable than other plan types because they usually have lower monthly payments. However, these plans require you to stay within their network of health care providers unless it's an emergency. To see a specialist, you need a referral from your primary care doctor. These plans are good if you want to spend less each month and have in-network doctors near you.
Plan Recommendations
We suggest the following Silver HMO plans from Ambetter:
The best short-term health insurance in Michigan is National General Accident & Health, scoring 95 out of 100. Short-term health plans differ from traditional ACA-compliant plans and do not offer permanent health insurance coverage or essential health benefits like other plans.
National General Accident & Health offers plans with the lowest MOOP costs, making it our top pick for short-term health insurance in Michigan. Besides these plans, it offers products like Medicare, critical illness, accident and dental plans. Its health plans have a low co-insurance amount and provide generic prescription drug coverage.
To find the best health insurance provider in Michigan, you should first assess your needs and consider how much you’re willing to pay per month versus out of pocket. MoneyGeek recommends understanding your needs and budget before you go shopping for health insurance.
Understand when a health insurance plan will cover you
When you go to a doctor that your health plan has a deal with, that provider is considered to be in your plan's network. But, if you see a doctor outside that group, that provider is considered out-of-network. Some plans let you see any doctor you want, but others only help cover the cost of services with in-network doctors.
Michigan has three PPO plans, four EPO plans and 55 HMO plans. PPO plans allow you to choose doctors outside the network but have higher monthly premiums. Plans with fewer choices — like EPOs and HMOs — may save you money in monthly premiums but won't pay for out-of-network services except in emergencies.
Weigh the cost of premiums vs. the cost of care
When looking for health insurance, it's important to consider both monthly premiums and yearly MOOP expenses. If you don't need a lot of doctor visits, a plan with a lower monthly premium but a higher MOOP expense might work well. If you require frequent medical care, a plan that costs more each month but has a lower maximum might be better suited to your needs.
For example, Ambetter's Clear Silver plan has the lowest MOOP annual cost of $5,400 and a monthly premium of $395. That premium is less than what other Silver plans from Ambetter usually cost each month. If you can find a Silver plan with a low monthly cost, low MOOP expense and a solid network of doctors, it could be a solid option — especially if you anticipate needing medical care.
Medicare is a federal health insurance program that allows adults 65 and older and those with qualifying conditions to access health care services at a lower cost. It's divided into three parts:
If you're looking for comprehensive coverage, MoneyGeek also found the best Michigan Medicare Supplement plans and the best Michigan Medicare Advantage plans.
If you don’t qualify for Medicare, you may be eligible for another government-funded program called Medicaid. In Michigan, you can qualify for Medicaid if your income is below 138% of the FPL.
Individuals considering health insurance often have questions about cost and plan availability. MoneyGeek answered the most commonly asked questions below to help you make a well-informed decision.
The best health insurance in Michigan for 2024 is provided by Ambetter. However, the best choice for you will depend on your unique circumstances and needs.
To find the best health plan in Michigan, you should consider your coverage needs and choose an insurer that offers affordable, adequate coverage.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.
