Michigan Health Insurance (MI)

In recent years, the availability and affordability of health insurance has been the subject of much debate. But the hard truth is that about one out of seven Americans has no health insurance and for many who do have coverage, the cost of that coverage is an enormous financial strain. Michigan health insurance can no longer be considered a luxury; it is a necessity! As the cost of preventative care, emergency treatments, and prescription drugs continues to spiral out of control, people want and deserve a reliable source for Michigan health insurance quotes. They need look no further than insuranceUSA.com. Health insurance is simply a written policy which covers medical expenses, both routine and emergency. Today, many states are expanding their coverage to included both long-term care and disability.
In this information-filled article, you will find everything you need to know concerning the regulations of Michigan health insurance, both for individuals and small groups. You will learn the fundamental facts regarding COBRA coverage. COBRA stands for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 and is basically a plan which allows workers, who no longer have health insurance coverage due to the loss of employment, the right to maintain their group health insurance coverage for a limited amount of time and usually at their own expense.

You will also find interesting statistical information with which you can compare the health of fellow Michiganns with the health of residents of other states.

This article will provide you with all the information needed about Michigan health insurance to make a shrewd and intelligent decision when choosing the insurance coverage which is right for your individual situation and needs. Once you have selected your options, insuranceUSA.com stands ready to provide you with health insurance quotes so that you can make your final decision with confidence!
Michigan Individual and Family Health Insurance
Michigan does not regulate the types of individual or family health insurance policies that are written or regulated by insurance companies. Michigan health insurance companies are allowed to design their own policies and they may choose whatever options they wish to offer- including benefits, co-insurance limits, deductibles. Some benefits, such as mammography, are mandated by the state. For individual health plans, all insurance companies in Michigan have the right to deny coverage to any person based on their current or past health history. If you are applying for individual health coverage and you have a pre-existing medical condition, the Michigan health insurance company has different actions they can take concerning your application. Firstly, they may categorically deny you all medical insurance coverage. Secondly, they may offer you coverage but refuse to cover any medical expenses related to the pre-existing condition. Thirdly, they may offer you full coverage, including coverage for the pre-existing condition. The insurance company makes this determination usually based on the severity of the pre-existing condition and also the estimated costs anticipated to maintain and treat the condition. These pre-existing conditions can be excluded for up to 24 months in a new policy. Michigan health insurance companies are not required to give credit for prior insurance coverage.

Michigan Group Health Insurance
Michigan health insurance regulations considers a small group for insurance purposes to be a company with anywhere between 2 and 50 employees. Many companies will offer health insurance to their employees, but under Michigan health insurance law, they are not required to offer it to all employees. People who work part-time, or who do not live within the area the insurance covers, may not always qualify for the group insurance plan. If you do qualify for coverage, however, this means that you will have insurance through the group plan, regardless of your health. The employers can decide if there is a waiting period before an employee is covered. Group insurance plans may deny benefits for pre-existing medical conditions that you have been treated for within the last six months. However, if you are denied coverage for a pre-existing condition and if you had insurance before that provided coverage for the pre-existing medical condition, you may be eligible for continued care under the old policy.

Michigan COBRA Insurance
COBRA insurance coverage, as outlined in Michigan health insurance rules, applies to companies that have 20 or more employees on staff. To make sure that Michigan health insurance is available to those who are between jobs, COBRA coverage can be applied for 18 months to those who meet eligibility requirements. There are certain exceptions to that time frame. Eligible dependents can be covered by COBRA for 36 months, and disabled people can keep coverage for 29 months. COBRA is an extension of your previous Michigan health insurance plan, and if your former employer decides to discontinue coverage for employees, your coverage will also end. Once COBRA benefits are ended, further Michigan health insurance can be obtained through the Michigan Comprehensive Health Insurance Association (ACHIA).

Michigan Health Information and Statistics
If you are in the market for quality Michigan health insurance, the following facts may be of interest to you. You will find helpful statistical information outlining how Michigan ranks in many categories related to overall health, both medical and lifestyle, plus other pertinent material.

Some of the positives of residing in Michigan are a low geographic disparity within the state, a low occupational fatalities rate and a low rate of uninsured population. Michigan also faces many challenges, such as low per capita public health funding, a high violent crime rate, and a high prevalence of binge drinking.

According to a 2008 study, Michigan had some significant changes over the past year. These include an increase in the prevalence of smoking of 6%. However, the percentage of children living in poverty declined by 18%. Since 1990, the rate of uninsured population increased by 53% but the percentage of children in poverty decreased by 29%.

Following is a variety of statistical data related to living in Michigan, as compared with the rest of the country. These state rankings may be helpful when you consider purchasing Michigan health insurance.

• Prevalence of Smoking-34th
• Prevalence of Obesity-35th
• Violent Crime-41st
• Children in Poverty-28th
• Air Pollution-39th
• Cancer Deaths-33th
• Lack of Health Insurance-13th
• Prevalence of Binge Drinking-41st
• Infant Mortality-35th
• Infectious Disease-23rd
• Premature Death-29th

Overall Rank: 27
Change: +4