Enhanced premium tax credits (EPTCs) – which are temporary expansions and changes made to the original APTC rules – intended to make health care more affordable for more people. For the past five years, they have helped lower monthly premiums, expanded subsidy eligibility, increased Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace plan access and driven health insurance enrollment for millions of Americans.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network – along with other health insurance providers in Michigan – are adjusting their ACA Marketplace rates for 2026 with the impending expiration of EPTCs along with other factors immense pressure on health care affordability today.
Those other factors include skyrocketing prescription drug prices, an increasingly aging and unhealthy population and surging use of an expensive system.
What kind of rate increases can I expect from Blue Cross?
Blue Cross PPO plans will have an average rate increase of 24.0%, and Blue Care Network HMO plans will see an average increase of 23.2%.
Other health insurance providers in Michigan are also increasing their ACA marketplace rates for 2026. Most insurers’ prices will increase by an average of 9% to 26%.
Blue Cross is the only insurer in Michigan that provides PPO plans to all 83 counties and is the sole carrier for the Upper Peninsula. More than 120,000 members are enrolled in the Blue Cross and BCN Marketplace plans.
In 2024, Blue Cross paid $100 million per day for members’ care and benefits, up $12 million per day from just the year prior. Blue Cross also paid out more than it collected in premiums – $1.04 for every $1 it collected in premiums in 2024.
“Affordability of health insurance is a key component to maintaining access to care for our members and ensuring the health of our communities,” said Rick Notter, vice president of Individual Business for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. “Premiums in the individual market were already stressed by rising medical and drug costs. The potential reductions to federal funding for enhanced premium tax credits will add additional pressure to health insurance prices in Michigan. Blue Cross is advocating for the continuation of subsidies in the Marketplace to keep health insurance within reach.”
Ahead of the open enrollment period, it’s important to know that Blue Care Network is expanding the BCN Select HMO network to 11 new counties, increasing in-network care to the following counties:
- Allegan
- Berrien
- Benzie
- Cass
- Grand Traverse
- Jackson
- Lapeer
- Leelanau
- Lenawee
- Manistee
- Wexford
‘Cross Walking’ and other things to know about new plans as insurers leave the market
Multiple health insurers are pulling out of Michigan’s ACA Marketplace and individual market for the 2026 coverage year. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is the only insurer to offer plans in all 83 counties. We have not left because we are committed to Michigan and providing people access to the care they need. We want to be there for you when you need us the most.
The departure of these other insurers means an estimated over 200,000 people will need to choose a new health insurance plan during the open enrollment period. A process called “cross walking” will apply to those people. “Cross walking” in health insurance is the process of moving members from a discontinued insurance carrier or plan to a new one. In this case, your former carrier will transfer you to Blue Cross, which you will enter as a new member.
Many people who fall into this category will receive a letter or packet from Blue Cross, as early as November. If you receive a mailing from us, it doesn’t mean you are automatically enrolled, but you will receive information about our rates and available plans for the 2026 coverage year.
Losing coverage will constitute as a qualifying event, meaning those that lose it will have more time to pay and activate their coverage. Not everyone who is cross-walked to Blue Cross is required to select a Blue Cross plan. You also have the option to apply for coverage in the open Marketplace on healthcare.gov.
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