Faculty, staff and retirees will have an additional health plan choice for 2021. The university will add Michigan Care to the available options, a new managed care plan similar to U-M Premier Care.
Options for 2021 will still include U-M’s existing plans:
- BCBSM Community Blue PPO
- Comprehensive Major Medical
- U-M Premier Care
- GradCare for benefits-eligible graduate students
The addition of Michigan Care provides another choice so you can select the right health plan for your needs.
Michigan Care Basics
Michigan Care will offer a narrower network than U-M Premier Care with a lower monthly premium for most participants. It also includes chiropractic and expanded telehealth coverage. Michigan Care members will have on-demand video access to Amwell physicians and scheduled access to the Amwell behavioral health network, with the same copays as Michigan Care in-network coverage and no extra fees.
Its hallmark is access to Michigan Medicine’s health care providers as well as other high-quality network providers in southeast Michigan. The focus will be on highly personalized care coordination for members across the network. This coordination is aimed at managing your health care across providers and specialists.
The new plan aims to improve your health outcomes through greater focus on coordinated care. You’ll benefit from increased communication among your health care providers and attention to key quality metrics. Those efforts can reduce redundant tests and encourage well-coordinated, high-quality care.
Are My Providers in the Network?
Find out now if your providers are part of the network by using an online directory.The directory and more information about Michigan Care are available at hr.umich.edu/michigan-care.
Rates for 2021 health plans will be available in August.
Am I Eligible for Michigan Care?
Because of the narrow provider network, access to the plan will be limited to faculty, staff and retirees who live in a specific geographic area within southeast Michigan. An online tool is available to determine whether your zip code is in the coverage area.
Michigan Care is administered by Physicians Health Plan based in Lansing. Michigan Medicine purchased a minority stake in PHP as part of an affiliation agreement with Sparrow Health System in 2019. Michigan Medicine leaders are engaged in and committed to the development and success of the plan.
When is Open Enrollment?
If you live in Michigan Care’s geography-eligible area, you can enroll in Michigan Care during the annual benefits open enrollment period in late October. Coverage would be effective Jan. 1, 2021.
