Michigan Essential Health Benefits Benchmark

The Department of Insurance and Financial Services is seeking public comment on the selection of the state’s essential health benefits for 2017, it announced Friday.

Beginning in 2014, the federal Affordable Care Act required health plans sold in the individual and small group markets to offer a comprehensive package of items and services, known as “essential health benefits,” the department said in a statement. The State of Michigan chose a benchmark plan in 2012 for use in the 2014-2016 plan years. The federal government now requires that all states choose a new benchmark plan, for use in plan year 2017, by July 1, 2015.

Additional information and a comparison of the essential health benefits benchmark plans being considered for 2017 are available online.

Public comments will be accepted through June 5, 2015 and should be sent electronically to DIFS-EHBcomments@michigan.gov.