Support Legislation Creating MiHealth Marketplace (the Healthcare Exchange)

Senator Jim Marleau has introduced Senate Bill 693 in the state Senate that will create Michigan's health insurance exchange called the "MiHealth” marketplace. As mandated by the Affordable Care Act, all states are required to establish consumer-oriented health insurance marketplaces through which individuals and small businesses can purchase health insurance coverage starting in January 2014. Senate Bill 693 would create the competitive MIHealth marketplace in Michigan to give consumers more control, quality choices, and better protection when buying insurance. The MiHealth marketplace establishes an easy-to-use website similar to Travelocity or Orbitz – as well as a 1-800 call-in center – that would allow consumers to make real comparisons between plans to find the one that best meets their needs and budget.

SB 693 needs to be adopted soon to ensure Michigan has enough time to successfully design an exchange that meets our state's needs. Delaying the legislation could result in Michigan losing millions of dollars in federal grant funding and the time necessary to properly design the MiHealth Marketplace and integrate the technologies necessary to make the exchange run properly.