At Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, we believe health care should be there when people need it—and at a price they can afford.

Why Affordability Must Be at the Center of Health Care

Hospital prices, along with prescription drug prices and the costs associated with physician care, comprise the vast majority of the health insurance dollar. In this era of hospital consolidation and expansion – driven by mergers among corporate health systems – competition is reduced, driving price pressures higher.

Report: Michigan Hospital Costs, Consolidation Putting Pressure on Health Care Affordability

The Value Partnerships collection of clinical quality improvement programs among Blue Cross, physicians and hospitals across Michigan make health care work better for everyone. 

Blue Cross Value Partnerships Program Prevents $6.3 billion in Health Care Expenses in Michigan Over 20 Years

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        “Health Care is Personal. Let's Make it Work for Everyone.” <br>
        <span class="author">
            
            
            - Tricia Keith, President & CEO, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
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    <p class="subtext">
        People can’t have access to quality medical care without affordable health insurance. Today, increasing health insurance costs are becoming more of a strain on the budgets of the businesses and people we serve. We want to help you understand why this is happening and what can be done.
This site will be updated with insight about this important issue that we, at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, are committed to addressing — affordability.
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  <h2>The Cost Equation</h2>
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      <h3 class="card-title">Surging Medical Costs</h3>
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        <img src="https://cdn.sanity.io/images/eztzxh9q/development/40b09759c286057c3e200bf131c4e742204164ad-438x360.png" alt="Medical Cost Increase">
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        <p>From 2000 to 2024, prices for medical care increased 40% faster than everyday prices, like groceries and gas.<sup>¹</sup></p>
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      <h3 class="card-title">Skyrocketing Drug Prices</h3>
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        <img src="https://cdn.sanity.io/images/eztzxh9q/development/1cc0e54e96f6bf4c870cec2a64904560a72cece8-438x360.png" alt="Skipped Pills Statistic">
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        <p>In 2023, pharmaceutical companies priced new U.S. drugs 35% higher than 2022.<sup>²</sup></p>
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    <div class="symbol">+</div>

    
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      <h3 class="card-title">Paying for Care</h3>
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        <img src="https://cdn.sanity.io/images/eztzxh9q/development/fc86b01c913a0035846e507ffde7e26f8a589f00-438x360.jpg" alt="Care Cost Graph">
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        <p>Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan paid an average of $100 million per day for the care and benefits of members in 2024. That is $12 million more per day than 2023.</p>
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      <h3 class="card-title">Premium Pressures</h3>
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        <p>In 2024, for every $1 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan collected in premiums, we paid $1.04 for our members' care.</p>
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  <p class="subtext">
    Your health insurance costs are the end of the cost equation. They reside downstream. Upstream are the costs within the health care system itself. The costs of medical care charged by hospitals and doctors. The price of prescription drugs. The cost of administration and continually evolving technology. These upstream costs flow downstream into your health insurance premium. This is why we are calling for system-wide solutions. We all serve you — and we owe it to you to work together to solve problems that are driving your health insurance premiums higher.
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    <h2 class="closing-heading">We act in service to our members and customers — always.</h2>
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        The cost of accessing health care services matters. It concerns us every day. Because health care is personal to every single member we serve, it must be affordable. This is why we are calling for system-wide solutions. We all serve you — and we owe it to you to work together to solve problems that are driving your health insurance premiums higher.
    </p>
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<div class="source-references">
  <p class="bcbsm-link">
    <a href="https://www.bcbsm.com/individuals/help/buying-insurance/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">bcbsm.com</a>
  </p>
  <p class="source-label">Sources</p>
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    <sup>¹</sup> <a href="https://www.bcbs.com/news-and-insights/white-paper/affordability-solutions-white-paper" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Blue Cross and Blue Shield</a>,
    <sup>²</sup> <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/prices-new-us-drugs-rose-35-2023-more-than-previous-year-2024-02-23/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reuters</a>
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Affordability

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