Wayne, Oakland & Macomb · 2–50 employees
Small business health insurance in metro Detroit
Metro Detroit teams often live in one county and work in another, and care is organized around big hospital systems. We build benefits around where your people actually live and get care.
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- Wayne, Oakland & Macomb
- Network check included
- Proposed 2027: 9.6% avg
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Detroit metro employers by size
Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties had 93,084 establishments in 2023; 21,031 had 10 to 49 employees and 5,460 had 50 to 499.
| County | All establishments | Under 10 employees* | 10–49 employees | 50–499 employees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne | 33,699 | 24,161 | 7,417 | 1,966 |
| Oakland | 39,792 | 27,887 | 9,272 | 2,508 |
| Macomb | 19,593 | 14,230 | 4,342 | 986 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023 (released 2025), all industries. Counts are establishments (business locations) by employees at that location, not companies, so a multi-site employer is counted once per site. *Censusso a multi-site employer is counted once per site.
rsquo;s smallest size class also includes locations with no paid employees in the March pay period.Your options for 2027
- Small-group plan (2–50): one shared plan, community-rated by age and area; see small-business options.
- Level-funded: fixed monthly cost with stop-loss built in; may return a surplus in a good claims year.
- ICHRA: you set a tax-free allowance and employees buy individual plans.
- QSEHRA: a simpler capped allowance for employers under 50 with no group plan.
Renewal on the way? Start with a 2027 renewal audit. Churches and nonprofits have extra rules; see church & nonprofit benefits. Growing past 50? See mid-market benefits.
What employees would pay on their own
Wayne County is rating area 1; Oakland and Macomb are rating area 2. An ICHRA can set different allowances for employees who work in different rating areas, so a company with sites in Detroit and Troy could treat them as two classes. [IRS/DOL/HHS ICHRA rules] In 2026, 55 of Wayne’s 64 individual plans were HMOs.
| Where employees live (2026) | Insurers | Plans | Lowest Silver, age 30 | Lowest Silver, age 40 | Lowest Silver, age 60 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne | 5 | 64 | $450.83 | $507.63 | $1,078.03 |
| Oakland | 5 | 64 | $446.43 | $502.68 | $1,067.50 |
| Macomb | 5 | 64 | $446.43 | $502.68 | $1,067.50 |
Source: CMS QHP Landscape Individual Market Medical file, plan year 2026, computed by county. Monthly full price, one non-tobacco adult. The lowest-cost Silver plan is the one used in the ICHRA affordability test. 2027 prices post when HealthCare.gov window shopping opens.
Proposed 2027 small-group rates
Michigan insurers asked DIFS for an average 9.6% increase for 2027 small-group plans. Nationally, employers in Mercer’s preliminary survey expect total health benefit cost per employee to rise 8.2% after planned changes, or 11% if they change nothing. [DIFS; Mercer, Sep 2, 2026]
| Insurer (small group) | Requested 2027 change | Current enrollment |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan | 7.0% Proposed | 133,192 |
| Blue Care Network of Michigan | 10.7% Proposed | 133,899 |
| Priority Health | 11.6% Proposed | 87,423 |
| Priority Health Insurance Company | 10.7% Proposed | 2,390 |
| Health Alliance Plan (HAP) | 11.6% Proposed | 22,605 |
| Alliance Health and Life | 11.6% Proposed | 16,845 |
| UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company | 14.8% Proposed | 6,612 |
| UnitedHealthcare Community Plan | 14.5% Proposed | 756 |
| Small-group market total | 9.6% | 403,722 |
Source: Michigan DIFS, “2027 Michigan Health Insurance Rate Change Requests, Small Group Market (as filed, subject to DIFS approval),” updated July 14, 2026. Averages across each insurer’s small-group book; your renewal depends on your plan, employees’ ages, area and contributions.
Networks and local hospitals
Detroit-area systems include Henry Ford Health, the Detroit Medical Center and Corewell Health East. [Michigan Health & Hospital Association]
HMO networks are often built around one system. If your team is spread across the metro, we check the doctors and hospitals they use in each option. We don’t promise any provider is in a given network.
Our office is in Ada, in West Michigan. Employers in other parts of the state usually work with us by video and phone, and we can meet on site for open enrollment if you need it.
How we work
- Share your employee count, ZIP codes, renewal month and current plan (or that you have none).
- We compare group, level-funded, ICHRA and QSEHRA side by side, using 2027 rates once they’re filed and released.
- You decide. We handle setup and notices, and stay with you through renewals.
We’re paid by the insurer you choose, and we’ll tell you how. Nothing here guarantees a rate or savings.
2-minute advisor Q&A
Metro Detroit small-business benefits
A Nexus advisor answers the questions we hear most. (Video coming soon.)
- How do networks work with Henry Ford, DMC and Corewell?
- Can ICHRA work for staff in different counties?
- What's a realistic 2027 renewal?
Frequently asked questions
How much are small-group rates going up in Detroit for 2027?
Michigan insurers requested an average 9.6% increase for 2027 small-group plans (as filed, subject to DIFS approval). Your renewal depends on your plan, employees' ages, area and claims for level-funded plans.
How many employees do I need for a group plan in Detroit?
In Michigan the small-group market covers employers with 1 to 50 employees, but most group plans need at least one non-owner employee and insurer participation and contribution minimums. ICHRA and QSEHRA have no participation minimum.
Is ICHRA a good fit for a Detroit business?
It can be. Employees in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb buy individual plans; in 2026 Wayne County had 5 insurers and the lowest Silver plan for a 40-year-old cost $507.63 a month at full price. We model the allowance employee by employee.
Do I have to offer health insurance?
Not if you have fewer than 50 full-time-equivalent employees. Employers with 50 or more can owe $3,780 per full-time employee (after the first 30) if you don't offer coverage to substantially all of them, or $5,670 per full-time employee who gets a Marketplace credit because your coverage wasn't affordable or didn't provide minimum value (IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-22).
What does a review cost?
Nothing. We're paid by the insurer you choose, and we'll explain how. There's no obligation.
Where are you on the benefits ladder?
Keep exploring
Small-business pages by region
Buying coverage for yourself or your family? See Michigan Open Enrollment 2027.