Short-Term Health Insurance in Michigan (2026)
Need coverage for a few months? Here’s what short-term health insurance looks like in Michigan right now, and the alternatives that usually work better.
Short-term coverage in Michigan
Short-term plans are available in Michigan
Michigan law limits a short-term plan to 185 days in any 365-day period from the same insurer, and the policy cannot be renewed to stretch past that limit. The 2024 federal rule capping these plans at four months has not been enforced since August 2025, and Michigan regulators told insurers in October 2025 that they could again follow the state's 185-day rule. At least six insurers were selling short-term plans in Michigan as of March 2026.
Short-term health plans are sold in Michigan. State law limits them to 185 days in any 365-day period from the same insurer, and they cannot be renewed. The stricter four-month federal limit is no longer being enforced, and Michigan regulators confirmed in October 2025 that the state's 185-day rule applies.
These plans can cost less than Marketplace plans, but they do not have to follow ACA rules. They generally exclude preexisting conditions, can leave out benefits such as maternity or mental health care, and do not qualify for premium tax credits.
If you have a health condition, or if you qualify for a premium tax credit, a Marketplace plan is usually the safer choice. Short-term coverage is best suited to a healthy person with a brief, known gap, such as waiting for a new employer plan to start.
What short-term plans are, and aren’t
Short-term plans are not ACA-compliant health insurance. Where they’re sold, insurers can ask about your health, decline to cover pre-existing conditions, and leave out benefits like maternity care, mental health care or prescriptions. They don’t qualify for premium tax credits.
They can make sense for a healthy person filling a short, known gap. For anyone with an ongoing condition, or who might qualify for subsidies, a Marketplace plan is usually the better choice.
Michigan questions
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Up to 185 days in any 365-day period from the same insurer, and the plan cannot be renewed. Michigan regulators confirmed this state rule in October 2025 after federal officials stopped enforcing a shorter four-month limit.
Generally no. Short-term plans in Michigan are not bound by ACA rules and usually exclude preexisting conditions. Marketplace plans must cover them.
Yes. At least six insurers were selling short-term plans in Michigan as of March 2026, and their forms and rates are reviewed by the state.
Sources
Reviewed October 2026. Rules and prices change every year; a licensed agent will confirm what applies to you.
