Governor Whitmer Celebrates Record-Breaking Health Insurance Marketplace Enrollment, New Savings

LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) Director Anita Fox announced that a record number of Michiganders signed up for comprehensive health insurance on the Health Insurance Marketplace during the recent open enrollment period. More than 322,000 Michiganders enrolled and will be able to save money on health insurance throughout 2023 thanks to state and federal actions championed by Governor Whitmer.  

“Every Michigander deserves access to high quality, affordable health insurance, and we will continue to do everything in our power to make that goal a reality,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “I am grateful for the work done by our federal and state partners to help a record number of Michiganders save money and enroll in a comprehensive health plan. While we celebrate this new record, we know that there is more work to do. I will continue to work with anyone who shares the goal of cutting costs for Michiganders while building a healthier state where everyone can thrive.” 

“Thanks to the recent open enrollment period and savings extended under the Inflation Reduction Act, more than 322,000 Michiganders now have the peace of mind that having comprehensive health insurance can provide,” said DIFS Director Anita Fox. “If you missed the January 15 deadline, you may still qualify for a special enrollment period if you have experienced a qualifying life event. You can find more information by visiting Michigan.gov/HealthInsurance, or by calling DIFS at 877-999-6442, from Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.” 

Open Enrollment for 2023 health insurance ran between November 1, 2022 and January 15, 2023. During that time period, 322,273 Michiganders signed up for a new health plan on HealthCare.gov. This represents a nearly 7% increase over enrollment numbers for 2022, and a nearly 21% increase over 2021, showing the strong upward trend in the need for affordable, comprehensive health insurance in Michigan. 

This year’s record enrollment was aided by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), federal legislation that extended savings to help more Michiganders find a plan for less than $10 per month. In addition, the Governor strengthened her ongoing commitment to help Michiganders understand their options and secure the health insurance they need for themselves and their families. At the Governor’s direction, the state called on insurance companies to lower rates, helped increase competition by attracting new health plans and new insurers, helped bring in more than $4 million in grants for free, local enrollment help, and expanded its educational outreach program to bring health insurance town halls to residents. 

For most Michiganders, the next opportunity to enroll in or change a Marketplace health plan will be the open enrollment period for 2024 coverage, which is set to begin November 1, 2023. Consumers who missed the January 15 deadline for 2023 coverage may qualify for a special enrollment period if they experience a qualifying life event, such as a birth, job loss, or divorce. In addition, Michiganders who qualify for the state’s Medicaid or MIChild programs can apply at any time. For help getting started, and to figure out for which programs they qualify, consumers should visit Healthcare.gov/lower-costs.