Bridge Michigan readers identified health care as a top election concern
Rising costs, limited access and a lack of mental health resources are straining Michigan’s system
Below, you’ll find facts and figures to illustrate the challenges, and some of the potential solutions officials are considering
With rising insurance premiums, a persistent shortage of providers and new state funding gaps caused by federal cuts, health care is one of the most pressing issues in Michigan heading into the midterm elections.
There are some glimmers of hope on the horizon, with proposed mental health reforms and investments in care.
But the outlook is concerning — more than 68% of Michigan adults surveyed in 2025 experienced at least one health care affordability problem in the past year, according to the Novi-based Healthcare Value Hub, and even more were worried about affording care in the future.
Listen up
Join Bridge reporters for a free, online discussion about the state of health care in Michigan on Wednesday, April 29 at 7 p.m. Register here. Can’t make it? Listen and look for us on WJR Detroit earlier in the day. Bridge reporters Eli Newman and Simon Schuster will join All Talk with Kevin Dietz, tentatively scheduled for 10:18 am on Wednesday, April 29
Readers, too, have listed health as a top concern for the state in Bridge Listens, our informal election-year survey. Here’s what they said:
“Costs are rising exponentially year after year for both the providers as well as the patients. There is no relief in sight. The quality of care continues to decrease as well as accessibility … The current model is unsustainable and has failed everyone involved miserably.” — Wes, Dexter
“I have to drive over 60 minutes if I need a walk in clinic otherwise I would have to use the ER for non emergency problems.” — Jenny, Cheboygan
“Just when you thought you had a good insurance package you find out that your doctor no longer accepts it. My dentist no longer accepts BCN and now UofM is bickering with BC. — John, Farmington Hills
“Michigan used to be a leader in providing mental health services and now we are near the bottom in comparison with other states. It is virtually impossible for many people to get the help they need.” — Kathleen, Mount Pleasant
So what is happening in Michigan that is causing so many to raise the alarm on health? Below, you’ll find facts, figures, research and expert analysis.
Related:
We also asked the leading gubernatorial candidates to weigh in. See what they had to say here, and look for additional health care stories on affordability, mental health and US Senate candidates this week.
Cost & affordability
The cost of health care in Michigan has surged in recent years. Residents often worry about the burden of staying covered by insurance and paying costs.
The average individual premiums on the Affordable Care Act marketplace jumped about 20% in 2026
The state’s average “benchmark” premium is $523, up from $260 in 2016 — Michigan’s current ranking is the 12th lowest in average cost among all other states and Washington, D.C.
690,000 Michigan adults — about 9% of the adult population — had medical debt between 2019 and 2021, a rate higher than the 8.6% national average during that time
More than 1 in 4 Michigan adults reported rationing medicine due to cost last year
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Amid affordability issues, hospital systems are battling with insurance plans to negotiate costs, leaving patients uncertain about coverage.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is set to drop coverage at Michigan Medicine this summer and UnitedHealthcare is transitioning out of Corewell Health’s system.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation to end “surprise billing” in 2020 and forgave $144 million in medical debt last year. She’s continued calls to limit medical debt interest rates and credit score impacts, but Senate-approved legislation has not been taken up in the state House.
Proposals to create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board with the power to cap prices have also stalled in Lansing.
What the research says
The evidence is clear and has been understood for decades: the higher the cost of health care is, the less people will use it. Costs continue to play an important role in decision-making today.
Insurance plans in Michigan posted double-digit rate increases this year.
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Coupled with the expiration of federal premium tax subsidies on the Affordable Care Act exchange, which has led to healthier individuals with lower health needs to exit the risk pool, the cost of insurance increases for everyone.
Federal analysts note when there’s more concentration in health plan markets and of providers at clinics and hospitals, patients have fewer options to shop around for care — Michigan has seen significant consolidation in both in recent years.
Patients are utilizing more health care following a lull during the pandemic, which has also driven up costs.
Drug prices, including the emergence of GLP-1 usage, nationwide have outpaced inflation, and equipment expenses, local worker wages and executive compensation continue to rise.
The result is a complicated assortment of costs for state residents.
“Out of pocket exposure is a combination of your premium plus what you need to pay when you get services,” said Dr. Mark Fendrick, who directs the Center for Value-Based Insurance Design at the University of Michigan.
Social safety net
Changes in government-supported health benefits have been a prominent feature under the Trump administration. In Michigan, those services are popular.
About 34,000 fewer Michiganders enrolled in ACA health insurance plans this year, the first decline since 2020. More are expected to drop off as the year goes on.
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Whitmer and state lawmakers added provisions to the current state budget to protect about $2.7 billion in Medicaid services, with the governor saying the federal cuts “threaten to destabilize health care” in the state.
Whitmer’s latest budget proposes raising supplemental funding for Medicaid through nearly $800 million in new taxes on nicotine, gambling and digital ads, an idea House Republicans have said they won’t support.
The governor’s proposal includes $92 million in supplemental funding for SNAP and Medicaid for costs associated with the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed last year.
What the research says
The loss of government-backed health services is associated with a rise in hospital stays and emergency room visits across systems. Participation in the SNAP food assistance program can facilitate better health outcomes in children and those with chronic health conditions.
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Cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and SNAP under President Donald Trump’s signature One Big Beautiful Bill Act are expected to cost Michigan hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
The Citizens Research Council of Michigan estimates changes outlined under the legislation will cost Michigan 40% of its forecasted general fund and about $1.1 billion in the 2026 fiscal year budget. Many of the changes are driven by shifting hospital provider taxes, a Medicaid-related health insurance provider tax and new SNAP contribution requirements.
Without the enhanced premium tax credits under the ACA, the Michigan League for Public Policy warns that monthly premiums will “skyrocket” unless Congress intervenes.
“When premiums rise this much, many people, especially small business owners, self-employed workers and middle-class families, will be forced to drop coverage entirely and seek their medical care in the emergency department, where it’s ultimately much more costly,” said League President and CEO Monique Stanton.
Access to care
Michigan is expected to face continued health care worker shortages in the coming decade.
There are critical vacancies for physicians, first responders and mental health professionals in Michigan. Rural parts of the state bear the brunt of the worker shortages. The shortages follow national trends.
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The state is considering several ways to expand health care professional roles with new licensing and expanded credentialing. Michigan also offers grants for career certification and training in certain technical fields.
Michigan was awarded $173 million in federal funding to support rural health needs, though many are doubtful of the program’s merits.
What the research says
Unsurprisingly, patients who see doctors less frequently are more prone to developing chronic health problems — there is a direct link to physician access and life expectancy.
Patients who live further away from health care facilities and providers may have worse health outcomes, according to a meta-analysis of several studies.
Burnout is a regular feature of working in health care, with working conditions, administrative constraints and unpredictable schedules cited as stress factors.
A recent study from the Michigan State Medical Society, which represents the state’s physicians, outlines several ways to improve the workforce, including reforming primary care payment models, reducing administrative burdens, strengthening training programs and better recruitment practices.
The Michigan Health Council, a nonprofit focused on improving the state’s health care workforce, provided similar guidance to improve access.
“We are poised to have a population primarily comprised of the baby boomer generation … and the current and future working-age populations of the health care workforce are not large enough to replace those retiring,” the council said in a recent report. “We will have more individuals who need care but fewer health care providers available to treat them.”
Mental health
Families, law enforcement and mental health health advocates say Michigan’s mental health system is in crisis.
About 2.15 million Michigan residents experienced mental illness in 2022, up from 1.76 million in 2016. Treatment levels remain flat
Of the 595,000 state residents who experienced substance-use disorder in 2022, 73% went untreated
More than a third of adults who did not access mental health care did so because of cost
With five psychiatric hospital beds per 100,000 people, Michigan ranks near the bottom in the country for capacity.
A decline of providers and staffing following the COVID-19 emergency has seen diminishing mental health services in the state, with people facing long waits for admission or seeking care out of state.
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The state is investing in a new state psychiatric hospital in southeast Michigan to improve capacity as it oversees mental health investments in other areas.
Republicans and Democrats have drafted legislation to improve early intervention strategies before a mental health emergency reaches a crisis. Officials recently defunded a farmer suicide prevention program, but some lawmakers are pushing to restore it.
What the research says
There’s growing evidence to show a rise in mental health issues in America, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
1 in 5 adults have been told by a health professional they had a type of depression disorder.
1 in 3 high school students report not feeling good most of the time
In Michigan, about 1 in 3 adults always or usually felt lonely in 2024
Mental health issues and their treatment can vary among individuals, but access to care remains a critical factor in improving conditions.
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The Treatment Advocacy Center recommends at least 30 to 60 psychiatric beds per 100,000 people to address community needs.
It’s common for people who need mental health care to refuse it because of lack of awareness of their own condition, said Kate Dahlstrom, president for the Grand Traverse branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. “They end up in jail a lot because they don’t get the treatment they need.”
About a quarter of people entering jail have a behavioral health issue, according to the Michigan Mental Health Diversion Council, with most being unable to access needed psychiatric services upon release.
Aging
Adults 65 and older are expected to outnumber children nationally by 2034. Michigan is aging faster than most states, and experts say the system is unprepared to meet coming needs.
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Nursing home availability has shrunk in recent years even as employment levels have recovered since the pandemic. Funding for homes has gone unused as problems — including abuse and neglect — go undetected.
Whitmer established a council to focus on improving Michigan’s overall population growth that authored a report in 2023. She is proposing removing the state’ retirement tax and property tax relief for seniors in the current budget to ease some of their financial burdens.
What the research says
Michigan’s aging population is expected to drive up the cost of health care as the need for services increases.
According to a 2025 Bridge investigation:
Michigan spends $4.4 billion in state and federal funds for seniors. That’s less than most other states
Michigan ranks 36th among 48 states for spending Medicaid dollars on long-term care. Michigan spends the equivalent of $2,378 per senior — 39% less than the national rate
Some states have reacted by drafting strategic action plans to address the demographic shift. Michigan is set to renew its plan later this year.
Few older state residents have made plans to designate a power of attorney for medical care, modify their homes for aging or have bought long-term care insurance, according to a recent poll from the University of Michigan.
About 58% believe Medicare will cover the costs of a permanent nursing home — which the program does not do. Half of older state residents believe planning for future long-term care is too far off to do so.
The AARP of Michigan, which has about 1.3 million members, has supported efforts to expand health care roles as a means to ensure coverage in the state.
“Part of our mission is to ensure that older adults, and by extension all health care consumers, can access primary care providers when and where they need one,” according to Jason Lachowski, the organization’s associate director of government affairs.
Role of government
Michigan residents increasingly find themselves at the center of a national debate over who should make health decisions — individuals, doctors, state officials or the federal government.
The state legalized abortion following a 2022 voter-approved constitutional amendment. Only eight other states and DC have no gestational bans on abortion like Michigan’s
Childhood immunization has seen a ten-year decline — 66.3% of Michigan 19- to 35-month-olds completed their vaccinations by the end of 2025. 73.8% of Americans in the same age cohort received the combined seven-vaccine series in 2024
Gender-affirming care for youth at Michigan’s hospitals has been derailed following federal legal pressure
New state laws to protect against discredited “conversion therapy” practices for LGBTQ youth have been successfully challenged in court. About two states have similar bans on the practice
Community fluoridation is being challenged in some communities despite warnings from dentists about the dangers of tooth decay that may result
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Michigan health officials have put out their own vaccine guidance to counter shifting positions from the White House in line with leading medical groups.
Leading medical groups consider gun violence a health issue, too. Firearms remain the leading cause of death for children in Michigan and are also the most common method used in suicide deaths in the state. Gov. Whitmer in 2023 signed “red flag” legislation to confiscate firearms from individuals who pose a risk.
What researchers say
Public trust in health institutions has fallen sharply across the country as medical misinformation continues to blur the line between fact and fiction — KFF found four in ten people say they’ve encountered false claims about COVID-19, reproductive health and gun violence.
Immunization practice changes under the leadership of US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have been criticized by doctors in Michigan and across the country.
Most medical experts say the shots are both safe and effective at preventing deadly infectious diseases. Same with fluoride, which is viewed as safe in drinking water at appropriate levels and useful in preventing cavities and improving tooth enamel.
Some health policy researchers say the state should join a health alliance or collaborative like groups formed by California, Oregon and Washington to respond to shifting federal policy.
Michigan’s “red flag” law has seen a major uptick in use since its implementation. Studies have found similar laws to be successful in driving down suicide, but less clear in violent crime, mass shootings or unintentional deaths.
This article first appeared on Bridge Michigan and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.