The following tools and resources are provided to help you find the health plan that offers the most advantages to you and your family, and then to use it wisely.
Before choosing a plan, consider all the costs involved (including both premiums and out-of-pocket expenses like deductibles, coinsurance, and copays), the plan’s service areas and access to your preferred doctors and hospitals. Think about the anticipated health need for you and your covered dependents as well as financial needs over the next year. Please note that there is no out-of-pocket cost to you for preventive care under any U-M Health Plan.
Choose Carefully
Use the available resources to review your choices and choose your health plan carefully. After you enroll in a U-M Health Plan, your coverage continues to the end of the calendar year or until you are no longer eligible. Your ability to change plans mid-year is very limited.
Generally, once you enroll in a U-M Health Plan there are only three times when you can change to a different health plan:
- During the annual open enrollment period, usually in October with changes effective January 1 of the following year.
- When you experience a qualified family status change.
- When you are enrolled in a managed care plan and move out of the service area.
For more information, visit Enrolling In and Changing Your Health Coverage.
Find a Participating Provider
Before you enroll in a new health plan, check the provider directory to make sure it includes a doctor and hospital of your choice. The providers will vary by health plan participation and network. Plan participating physicians and hospitals are always subject to change. You will not be able to change health plans mid-year due to a physician's or hospital's disaffiliation with your plan. Access the health plan provider directories.
Benefits Mentor
Benefits Mentor is an interactive tool available through Benefits Self-Service in Wolverine Access that can help you decide which U-M Health Plan best suits your needs. It gathers priorities you find important in a plan, and can factor in actual claims and/or average medical care to personalize your user experience.
In addition, Benefits Mentor offers the following:
- Provides claims history for you and your family members to make informed decisions based on historical patterns.
- Enables modeling of changes to dependents and the potential impact.
- Allows for side-by-side comparison between benefit plan options including the new Consumer-Driven Health Plan.
- Provides a suggested benefit plan option for you to consider.
Learn more about Benefits Mentor.
Health Plan Rate Estimator
Your individual health plan rates are available through Benefits Self-Service on Wolverine Access. Use the Health Plan Rate Estimator if you do not have a uniqname or if you want to see how an appointment or salary change might impact your monthly health plan rates. Visit Rates and Paying for Health Coverage for information about retiree and student rates, COBRA coverage, Leave of Absence/Reduction in Force (layoff), and medical coverage for temporary employees and others eligible under the Employer Shared Responsibility provision of the Affordable Care Act. Access the Health Plan Rate Estimator.
Health Plan Coverage Comparison
Use this resource to compare health services and coverage offered under the U-M Health Plans. Access the Health Plan Coverage Comparison tool.
You can also view the Health Plan Coverage Comparison Chart (PDF):