Michigan Small Group Health Insurance 2027: How to Choose

Michigan · Small group · 2027 rates

Michigan Small Group Health Insurance: 2027 Plans and Rates

Updated October 8, 2026

Carriers filed 2027 small group rates with the state, effective January 1, 2027.

Michigan has 8 small group carriers and 320 plan designs for 2027. Your price depends on your employees' ages and your business location.

Prices are going up for 2027. Michigan approved average increases of about 7% to 15%. Compare again before you renew.

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What's changing for Michigan small group health insurance in 2027?

  1. Average approved 2027 changes by carrier range from +7.0% to +14.8%. Approved by the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. Your group's change also depends on employee ages.

  2. Carriers filed 18 plan designs that are new for 2027, alongside plans that renew.

  3. Carriers marked 104 current plan IDs as terminated for 2027. Groups on those plans are moved to a replacement at renewal.

  4. Filed to withdraw from Michigan small group for 2027. Their groups need a new carrier.

  5. Paramount Care of Michigan and Paramount Insurance Company, small Southeast Michigan carriers owned by Medical Mutual, withdrew from Michigan small group for 2027. Michigan requires at least 180 days' notice to each covered employer.

  6. Michigan regulators approved each carrier's 2027 small-group filing in September 2026 at the average it filed. That's about 7% for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan's PPO and about 15% for UnitedHealthcare. Blue Care Network, Priority Health and HAP land at about 11% to 12%.

  7. Rates step up about 2.3% to 2.8% each quarter. A plan starting in October 2027 costs roughly 7% to 9% more than one starting in January.

Detroit skyline with the Renaissance Center towers rising above the Detroit River under a blue sky

How much does small group health insurance cost per employee in Michigan?

Monthly premium for one employee age 40, Detroit area (Area 1: Monroe, Wayne), rates effective January 1, 2027, before the employer contribution.
MetalPlans offered hereLowestMedianHighest
BronzePlans offered here40Lowest$315Median$382Highest$479
SilverPlans offered here122Lowest$340Median$437Highest$687
GoldPlans offered here296Lowest$383Median$530Highest$783
PlatinumPlans offered here123Lowest$462Median$632Highest$834

How employee age changes small group premiums

Median monthly premium per employee by age, Detroit area. Small-group premiums are set per employee by age, so a younger team pays less for the same plan.
MetalAge 21Age 30Age 40Age 50Age 60Age 64+
SilverAge 21$342Age 30$388Age 40$437Age 50$610Age 60$928Age 64+$1,025
GoldAge 21$415Age 30$471Age 40$530Age 50$741Age 60$1,126Age 64+$1,245

Which carriers offer small group health plans in Michigan?

Plan designs counted by plan name. Approved change is the carrier's average as decided by the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services.
CarrierPlan designsPlan typesRating areasFrom, age 40, DetroitApproved 2027 change
Blue Care NetworkPlan designs100Plan typesHMO, POSRating areas16 of 16From, age 40, Detroit$326Approved 2027 change+10.7%
Blue Cross Blue Shield of MichiganPlan designs37Plan typesPPORating areas16 of 16From, age 40, Detroit$439Approved 2027 change+7.0%
Priority Health (HMO/POS)Plan designs78Plan typesHMO, POSRating areas15 of 16From, age 40, Detroit$362Approved 2027 change+11.6%
HAP Alliance Health and Life (PPO/EPO)Plan designs32Plan typesEPO, PPORating areas15 of 16From, age 40, Detroit$400Approved 2027 change+11.6%
HAP (Health Alliance Plan)Plan designs25Plan typesHMORating areas14 of 16From, age 40, Detroit$315Approved 2027 change+11.6%
UnitedHealthcarePlan designs24Plan typesEPO, POSRating areas16 of 16From, age 40, Detroit$646Approved 2027 change+14.8%
Priority Health (PPO)Plan designs14Plan typesPPORating areas16 of 16From, age 40, Detroit$479Approved 2027 change+10.7%
UnitedHealthcare Community PlanPlan designs10Plan typesHMORating areas15 of 16From, age 40, Detroit$602Approved 2027 change+14.5%
Paramount Care of MichiganPlan designs–Plan types–Rating areas–From, age 40, Detroit–Approved 2027 changeLeaving small group
Paramount Insurance CompanyPlan designs–Plan types–Rating areas–From, age 40, Detroit–Approved 2027 changeLeaving small group

Small group health plan prices by Michigan region

Monthly premium for one employee age 40, rates effective January 1, 2027. A group is priced in the rating area of its main business location.
Rating areaCarriersLowest BronzeLowest SilverLowest Gold
Area 1: Monroe, WayneCarriers8Lowest Bronze$315Lowest Silver$340Lowest Gold$383
Area 2: Macomb, OaklandCarriers8Lowest Bronze$302Lowest Silver$326Lowest Gold$368
Area 3: Saint ClairCarriers8Lowest Bronze$333Lowest Silver$359Lowest Gold$439
Area 4: Lenawee, Livingston, WashtenawCarriers8Lowest Bronze$374Lowest Silver$403Lowest Gold$481
Area 5: Genesee, Lapeer, ShiawasseeCarriers8Lowest Bronze$295Lowest Silver$318Lowest Gold$359
Area 6: Huron, Sanilac, TuscolaCarriers8Lowest Bronze$363Lowest Silver$391Lowest Gold$449
Area 7: Clinton, Eaton, Hillsdale and 2 moreCarriers8Lowest Bronze$349Lowest Silver$377Lowest Gold$425
Area 8: Arenac, Bay, Gratiot and 1 moreCarriers8Lowest Bronze$329Lowest Silver$355Lowest Gold$434
Area 9: Berrien, Cass, Saint Joseph and 1 moreCarriers7Lowest Bronze$401Lowest Silver$432Lowest Gold$510
Area 10: Branch, Calhoun, KalamazooCarriers8Lowest Bronze$379Lowest Silver$408Lowest Gold$491
Area 11: Allegan, BarryCarriers8Lowest Bronze$390Lowest Silver$420Lowest Gold$491
Area 12: Ionia, Kent, Lake and 8 moreCarriers8Lowest Bronze$390Lowest Silver$420Lowest Gold$491
Area 13: Clare, Gladwin, Isabella and 1 moreCarriers8Lowest Bronze$390Lowest Silver$422Lowest Gold$479
Area 14: Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix and 7 moreCarriers8Lowest Bronze$326Lowest Silver$352Lowest Gold$430
Area 15: Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan and 10 moreCarriers8Lowest Bronze$366Lowest Silver$397Lowest Gold$449
Area 16: Alger, Baraga, Delta and 10 moreCarriers4Lowest Bronze$526Lowest Silver$567Lowest Gold$693

Michigan small group rules employers ask about

Who counts as a small employer

  • 1 to 50 full-time employees, counting part-time hours as full-time equivalents.
  • At least one employee on the first day of the plan year. Owner-only businesses usually don't qualify; ask the carrier.

MCL 500.3701

How premiums are set

  • By age (federal 3:1 curve) and rating area (16 areas).
  • Tobacco is allowed up to 1.5:1, but no 2027 small-group carrier uses it.
  • Rates rise each quarter, so your start month matters.

MCL 500.3474a; DIFS Bulletin 2026-14-INS; 2027 carrier filings

When you can enroll

  • Any month if you meet participation and contribution rules.
  • Michigan caps participation rules at 100% (10 or fewer eligible), 75% (11 to 25) and 50% (26 to 50).
  • Miss them and you can still enroll November 15 to December 15 for January 1.

45 CFR 147.104; MCL 500.3709

Tax credit and SHOP

  • The federal credit pays up to 50% of premiums for fewer than 25 FTEs, but it requires a SHOP plan.
  • No Michigan carrier sells SHOP plans for 2027.

IRS Small Business Health Care Tax Credit; DIFS 2027 rate table

Michigan small group health insurance FAQ

  1. For one employee age 40 in the Detroit area, filed 2027 rates run from $315 to $834 a month. The median Silver plan is $437. Your cost depends on employee ages, your business location and your contribution.

  2. 8 carriers filed 2027 small group rates in Michigan. The largest by number of plans are Blue Care Network, Priority Health (HMO/POS) and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Paramount Care of Michigan and Paramount Insurance Company filed to leave the market.

  3. The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services approved average increases of +7.0% to +14.8% by carrier.

  4. Each employee's premium is set by age and by the rating area of your main business location. Carriers can't price a group by its employees' health.

  5. Michigan's law requires at least one employee, and it doesn't say an owner counts as one. Most carriers expect at least one W-2 employee who isn't the owner or a spouse. Owner-only businesses usually buy individual coverage, so ask before you apply.

  6. Yes. The Department of Insurance and Financial Services approved each carrier's 2027 small-group filing in September 2026 at the average it filed, about 10% statewide.

  7. No. All eight Michigan small-group carriers sell off the Marketplace only for 2027, so the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit isn't practical in Michigan.

  8. State law allows up to 1.5 times, but none of the carriers selling small-group plans for 2027 uses a tobacco factor.

  9. Paramount is leaving Michigan small group. Michigan law requires it to give each covered employer at least 180 days' notice, and your coverage runs until the date in that notice. Pick a new carrier before then.

Small group health insurance in other states

Buying for yourself or your family instead? See the Marketplace plan directory.

Where these numbers come from

Reviewed by Jacob Guidi, licensed health insurance agent (NPN 19902041), Thrive Benefits Group.

Thrive Benefits Group is a licensed broker, not a carrier or government agency. Rates shown are filed 2027 rates for one employee before the employer contribution. Your group's quote depends on employee ages, location, plan choice and carrier rules. Rate changes shown were approved by the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services.