Michigan open enrollment 2027 Open enrollment · Michigan

Michigan Open Enrollment 2027 for Small Business Owners

Last updated November 3, 2026 · By Frank Caballero, licensed health insurance broker

Short answer

For small business owners in Michigan, open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov, and December 15 is the date to choose by for a January 1 start. Your own coverage can also come from a private, medically underwritten plan, which does not wait for the window: if approved, it can start the first of any month.

What 2027 looks like for you

Michigan's average 2027 rate change is 14.5% (finalized). The details are on the Michigan 2027 premium increase page.

Group plans can renew at any point in the year, so open enrollment matters to owners for two reasons: an individual coverage HRA, or ICHRA, reimburses employees for individual plans they choose, and most of that shopping happens in this window; and an owner covering only the household buys in the individual market too. For your own household, the 2027 subsidy line is $63,840 for one person, $86,560 for two and $132,000 for four.

Michigan this year

Michigan small employers face about a 10 percent average group renewal for 2027, noticeably less than the 14.5 percent finalized individual increase. The individual market on HealthCare.gov is fairly competitive, including regional plans tied to hospital systems in Detroit, Grand Rapids and other metros, so an ICHRA would offer employees real choices, just at a faster-rising price. For an automotive engineering consultancy outside Detroit, a west-side fruit or dairy farm, or an Up North tourism business with seasonal staff, the group renewal may hold its value this year. Owners who spend winters in Florida should also pay attention to how far a network reaches.

Small-group plans in Michigan average about 10% for 2027, against 14.5% for individual plans, so put this year's group renewal next to an ICHRA quote before you sign it.

One thing to do before you choose

If you or an employee spend part of the year in Florida, check network reach before choosing anything. A Michigan HMO often covers only emergencies in Florida, while a broader network can cover care in both places. Because I hold licenses in Michigan and Florida, I can compare group, ICHRA and individual options for owners who split the year between Lansing or Ann Arbor and the Gulf Coast.

Your checklist

Your 2027 group renewal letter and its effective date
How many employees you have and where they live
A fixed monthly ICHRA budget you could offer
Your own household's coverage, priced separately

Private plan or Marketplace?

Private plan

For the owner's own household when everyone is healthy: priced on age, ZIP code and health. Approval depends on health answers; not an ACA Marketplace plan.

Marketplace

For employees on an ICHRA, or an owner with ongoing care: HealthCare.gov accepts everyone during open enrollment.

Compare Michigan plans this open enrollment

Private plans priced first, the Marketplace alongside when it fits. Phone or video, English or Spanish, no fee.

Get a quote Book a call (786) 218-2384

About your broker

Frank Caballero (NPN 21032307), licensed in 31 states including Michigan. Phone or video, English or Spanish, no fee; independent, not HealthCare.gov or any government agency.

Questions

When is the 2027 open enrollment deadline in Michigan?

January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov. Choose by December 15, 2026 for coverage that starts January 1; plans picked after that start February 1.

Does a small Michigan employer's group plan have to cover people after they leave?

Generally not. Michigan has no state continuation law for small employer plans, so someone leaving a workplace of fewer than 20 people usually loses group coverage when the job ends. That person typically moves to a Marketplace plan during a special enrollment period or applies for private coverage.

Can I get a private plan in Michigan after open enrollment closes?

Yes. You can apply in any month and, if approved, a private plan can start the first of a month; the insurer can decline based on health answers.

More for Michigan

Official sources: HealthCare.gov, the federal Marketplace; HealthCare.gov: special enrollment periods. FC Insurance Solutions is an independent, licensed brokerage and is not affiliated with any government agency.

Written by Frank Caballero, licensed health insurance broker in Michigan and 30 other states, NPN 21032307. Last updated November 3, 2026.