RELEASE
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Blue Care Network Maintain Strong Presence in 2026 ACA Marketplace, Assist Individuals Amid Coverage Transition
Brianna Neace
| 3 min read
DETROIT, October 29, 2025 – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network will continue to be a consistent and reliable health insurance carrier for residents heading into the upcoming 2026 ACA Marketplace open enrollment period.
The Michigan Individual Market has experienced an unprecedented level of carriers withdrawing from the Marketplace or reducing their service areas and plan offerings. As such, over 200,000 Michigan residents are expected to lose coverage for 2026 due to their current health plan carrier leaving the Marketplace. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will transfer more than 160,000 of these residents to the lowest-priced Blue Care Network plan available in their area. This process will allow all individuals to maintain a similar level of coverage at the most affordable rate. Individuals transitioned to a BCN plan will be notified and will receive a new member welcome packet with plan information by November 21. New members will have until January 15, 2026, to evaluate their new coverage and shop for an alternative plan, if desired.
“The health care landscape is rapidly changing as a result of upstream cost pressures for medical care and drugs that, along with changes in federal subsidies, are impacting downstream health insurance prices for individuals and families,” said Rick Notter, vice president of Individual Business for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. “Despite these ever-increasing pressures, we remain committed to ensuring our members and customers can depend on us for reliable, quality coverage, whenever it’s needed.”
Blue Cross and BCN will continue to maintain a variety of coverage options for 2026 enrollment with 50 plan offerings – four Gold, 23 Silver, 20 Bronze and three Catastrophic level offerings. Blue Care Network is expanding its BCN Select HMO network to 11 new counties, which will increase access to in-network care for more rural counties throughout the state. Blue Cross also remains the only insurer in the state to offer a PPO plan on the exchange and provide coverage in each of Michigan’s 83 counties, as well as the sole carrier in the Upper Peninsula.
Blue Cross’ and BCN’s combined membership in individual plans has remained steady, with more than 150,000 members enrolled in individual market health plans. Several benefits are included as part of all individual plans to keep members and their families healthy at no extra cost including but not limited to virtual care management, behavioral health services, oncology navigation, women’s health support and personalized care coordination for all individual Blue Cross PPO and BCN HMO plans.
About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit mutual insurance company, is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. BCBSM provides health benefits to more than 4.7 million members residing in Michigan in addition to employees of Michigan-headquartered companies residing outside the state. The company has been committed to delivering affordable health care products through a broad variety of plans for businesses, individuals and seniors for more than 86 years. Beyond health care coverage, BCBSM supports impactful community initiatives and provides leadership in improving health care. For more information, visit bcbsm.com and MiBluesPerspectives.com.
