Health care costs are rising — and for many Michiganders, that means difficult choices about coverage, care and financial stability. In a timely episode of the A Healthier Michigan Podcast, recorded live at the 2025 Mackinac Policy Conference, three of Michigan’s top leaders in health care and business come together to discuss how we move forward — together.
Guests include Tricia Keith, President and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan; Brian Peters, CEO of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association; and Brian Calley, President and CEO of the Small Business Association of Michigan. The conversation centers on what’s driving health care costs, how it’s impacting families and employers and why shared responsibility is key to meaningful progress.
Keith opens the discussion with a clear truth: when health insurance isn’t affordable, it is a barrier to people getting the care they need. Blue Cross, she emphasizes, is focused on making health care more affordable for members while investing in smarter ways to deliver care — like value-based partnerships that prioritize outcomes over volume.
Peters underscores the growing influence of hospital consolidation. Several Michigan health systems now control more than 60% of their local markets.
Calley brings perspective to the strain of health care costs on Michigan’s small business community citing recent survey findings from the Small Business Association of Michigan that show health insurance is the top concern for employers across the state, ranking ahead of inflation, taxes and workforce challenges.
“We asked thousands of Michigan small business owners what keeps them up at night,” Calley explains. “And the number one answer — by far — was the cost of providing health insurance. That tells us this isn’t just a health policy issue. It’s an economic one.”
He stresses that when health insurance becomes unaffordable, small businesses are left with few choices. Some are forced to shift costs to employees or reduce coverage. Others consider dropping it altogether — undermining their ability to attract and retain talent in a competitive labor market.
All three leaders agree: no single player can solve the affordability crisis alone. It will take coordinated effort — between insurers, hospitals, businesses and policymakers — to bring real change. That means aligning incentives, building trust and making affordability a shared priority.
Listen to the full episode to hear how these leaders are working to reshape Michigan’s health care system with affordability, access and collaboration at the core.
Photo credit: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
