What Do I Need to Know About the Taxes and Fees Included in My Premium?

When you receive a bill from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan or get a quote for a health plan, these taxes and fees will be included in your premium. 

Where did those come from? They support either health care reform or the State of Michigan. Some of the taxes and fees:

  • Raise money to support the individual health insurance market
  • Help fund the state and federal insurance marketplaces
  • Assist research that compares how well different medical treatments work

These federal and state taxes and fees don't apply to Medigap plans.

Which taxes and fees might be in my premium rate?

Federal taxes

  • The Comparative Effectiveness Fee. This annual fee funds the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. The institute compares how well different medical treatments work.
  • The Marketplace Fee. The Affordable Care Act created a new way to shop online for health insurance. It’s called the Health Insurance Marketplace. This fee pays to support the Marketplace and has made it self-sustaining.
  • The Risk Adjustment Fee. This fee funds the risk adjustment program. The program helps to keep the cost of health insurance more stable.

State taxes

  • The Insurance Provider Assessment. The Insurance Provider Assessment requirements went into effect on Oct. 1, 2018. The assessment helps fund the state Medicaid program.
  • The State Insurance Premium Tax. A tax on Michigan-based health insurance premiums.
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