Open enrollment for Michigan Marketplace plans opens November 1, and the first thing to figure out is which door your household uses. Michigan does not run its own exchange, so private Marketplace plans and the premium tax credit come through HealthCare.gov. Lower income adults may fit the Healthy Michigan Plan instead, which you apply for through MI Bridges, the state’s benefits site. This guide covers both, plus the dates and steps for coverage starting January 1, whether you live in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Ann Arbor, Flint, Kalamazoo, Traverse City, or the Upper Peninsula.
This article is educational. Instant Health Help is a licensed health insurance agency, and our agent, Lobsang Rivas, holds an active non-resident health insurance license in Michigan. We are not HealthCare.gov, CMS, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), or an insurance company. We do not quote prices or name plans here, and results depend on your income, ZIP code, and household. Check the official dates on HealthCare.gov.
The short answer
- Michigan uses HealthCare.gov for Marketplace plans. CMS lists Michigan as a federally facilitated Marketplace state.
- Open enrollment runs November 1 to January 15. Pick a plan by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1.
- The Healthy Michigan Plan is a separate program. It is Michigan’s Medicaid expansion for adults 19 to 64 with income at or below 133% of the federal poverty level, and you can apply any time of year.
- One application can point you to the right place. If HealthCare.gov sees that someone may qualify for Medicaid, it sends their information to the state.
- Your income estimate for next year drives everything. It decides whether you get a tax credit on a Marketplace plan or get routed toward state coverage.
Which door is yours: HealthCare.gov or MI Bridges?
| If this sounds like you | Where to start |
|---|---|
| You buy your own coverage, are self-employed, or have no job-based plan, and your income is above the Healthy Michigan Plan level | HealthCare.gov, during open enrollment |
| You are 19 to 64, not pregnant, not on Medicare, and your income may be at or below 133% of the federal poverty level | MI Bridges, for the Healthy Michigan Plan |
| You are not sure, or your household is mixed | Either one. HealthCare.gov sends possible Medicaid cases to the state |
| You have Medicare | Neither. Medicare has its own enrollment periods |
MDHHS lists the full Healthy Michigan Plan rules on the Healthy Michigan Plan page: Michigan resident, age 19 to 64, income at or below 133% of the federal poverty level, not pregnant at the time of application, and not eligible for or enrolled in Medicare or another Medicaid program. The state also notes that new work requirements for the Healthy Michigan Plan begin January 1, so check that page for the steps that may apply to you. MDHHS decides who qualifies. We only help you apply.
To apply for the Healthy Michigan Plan, you can use MI Bridges, call the Michigan Health Care Helpline at 1-855-789-5610, or visit your local MDHHS county office.
Michigan open enrollment dates for coverage starting January 1
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Open enrollment starts | November 1 |
| Last day to pick a plan for coverage starting January 1 | December 15 |
| Open enrollment ends | January 15 |
| Coverage starts for plans picked December 16 to January 15 | February 1 |
Coverage starts only after you pay your first premium. After January 15, you can generally enroll or change Marketplace plans only with a Special Enrollment Period after a life event such as moving, losing other coverage, getting married, or having a baby. Medicaid and the Healthy Michigan Plan do not follow these dates.
How to enroll on HealthCare.gov, step by step
- Gather your household details first. Names, birth dates, Social Security numbers, addresses, how you file taxes, and income for everyone in your tax household. The HealthCare.gov get ready to apply page has the full checklist.
- Estimate next year’s income, not last year’s. Savings are based on the income you expect for the year you want coverage. Seasonal, gig, and hourly workers should make their best honest estimate and update it if things change.
- Log in or create your account and choose Michigan. If you had a Marketplace plan this year, use the same account so your information carries over.
- Read your eligibility results before you shop. They show any tax credit or extra savings, or whether someone in the household may fit Medicaid or the Healthy Michigan Plan.
- Compare plans at your ZIP code. Look at the deductible, copays, out-of-pocket maximum, and whether your doctors and prescriptions are covered, not just the monthly premium.
- Pick a plan by December 15 and pay your first premium for a January 1 start.
You can also apply by phone with the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 (TTY 1-855-889-4325), with trained local help you find by ZIP code, with a licensed agent or broker, or on paper.
Already on a Marketplace plan in Michigan?
Starting November 1, HealthCare.gov lets you log in and update your application with any changes you expect for next year. Do it even if nothing big changed. New income levels and savings amounts for next year post on November 1, and plans, networks, and drug lists can change from year to year. A quick update and a fresh look at your options can keep you from being surprised in January.
Tax credit basics in plain English
- It lowers your monthly premium and is based on your household and the income you estimate.
- HealthCare.gov says households with income between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level qualify for the premium tax credit in all states.
- You choose how much to use in advance: all, some, or none.
- It is settled at tax time with IRS Form 8962. If your final income is higher than you estimated, you may pay some back. If it is lower, you may get money back.
- Extra savings on deductibles and copays, called cost-sharing reductions, come only with a Silver plan for people whose income qualifies.
Mistakes to avoid
- Waiting until mid December. The December 15 deadline is for a January 1 start, and the first premium still has to be paid.
- Guessing income with last year’s number. Use what you expect next year.
- Leaving people off the application. List everyone in your tax household, even people who are not applying.
- Sharing your information with anyone offering cash or gifts to sign you up. HealthCare.gov warns against this. A licensed agent should give you a name and license number you can look up.
Frequently asked questions
When is open enrollment in Michigan?
For Marketplace plans, November 1 through January 15 on HealthCare.gov. Pick a plan by December 15 for coverage starting January 1.
Does Michigan have its own health insurance marketplace?
No. Michigan uses the federal Marketplace, so individual and family plans and the premium tax credit come through HealthCare.gov. For how we help Michigan residents, see our Michigan ACA health insurance help page.
Can I apply for the Healthy Michigan Plan during open enrollment?
Yes, and at any other time of year. Apply through MI Bridges, the Michigan Health Care Helpline, or your local MDHHS office. MDHHS decides eligibility.
What if my income is close to the Healthy Michigan Plan line?
Apply and let the system sort it out. If HealthCare.gov sees possible Medicaid eligibility, it sends your information to the state, and if you do not qualify for state coverage you can still look at Marketplace plans.
How Instant Health Help can help
We help Michigan residents by phone and online, in English or Spanish. We look at who needs coverage, your ZIP code, your income estimate, your doctors, and your prescriptions, then walk through the HealthCare.gov application with you and compare the plans available at your address. If someone in your household may fit the Healthy Michigan Plan better, we explain the difference and point you to MI Bridges.
Want help before the December 15 deadline?
Have your income estimate and your list of doctors and prescriptions ready, and we will walk through open enrollment with you step by step.
Call (321) 315-0054 | agent@inshh.com
Helping Michigan residents statewide by phone and online: Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Ann Arbor, Flint, Kalamazoo, Traverse City, the Upper Peninsula, and communities across the state.
You may qualify after tax credits. Eligibility varies.