In February, as a part an ACA Implementation Research Network established by the Center for Health Policy at Brookings and the Rockefeller Institute of Government, CHRT publishes an ACA marketplace competition analysis. The ACA Implementation Network includes representatives from five states: California, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, and Texas.

Collecting qualitative and quantitative data from Delta, Genesee, Kalamazoo, Kent, and Wayne counties, CHRT evaluates perceptions of competition in Michigan’s exchange and insurance market. The report shares that “at the end of the 2016 open enrollment period, 345,813 residents have selected a plan through Michigan’s exchange. New consumers make up 33 percent of these plan selections, while 67 percent were reenrollees. Of the reenrollees, 42 percent chose a new plan in 2016, while 25 percent were automatically reenrolled into the same plan they held in 2015. By March 31, 2016, Michigan has 313,123 effectuated enrollments (the number of enrollees who paid premiums) through its exchange.”

However, CHRT identifies large differentials in plan offerings, premiums, and out of pocket costs between regions in Michigan. For example, in Delta County, only 16 plans were offered whereas in Wayne County, 84 plans were offered. Health care and health policy experts interviewed share varying opinions. Despite nuances, most share an overall positive experience with Michigan’s marketplace exchange.

The results of this report were presented at a Washington, DC conference with panelists from other ACA Network states.