Starting January 1, 2026, approximately 140,000 Marketplace members will crosswalk to a 2026 BCBSM/BCN plan. CMS will automatically assign each member to the BCN plan that most closely mirrors their current coverage, with most members assigned to the BCN Local Network plans.
Crosswalked members will receive a letter from BCBSM/BCN providing helpful information on their new plan and options.
Here’s more helpful information, important reminders, and links to tools to support your clients during this transition.
Helpful Info for Crosswalk Members:
- Members will be defaulted to paperless billing.
- BCBSM will inform members in their welcome email and on their ID cards that they will not receive a paper bill.
- Members will need to create their member account at bcbsm.com/register after receiving their ID card to view their bill online.
- BCBSM sent member ID cards in mid-November. If members still don’t have their ID cards, they should contact BCBSM customer service immediately.
- Members will be able to view their bill on December 5, 2025, with the first bill due on December 25, 2025.
Important Note:
If the member does not have an email address, they will receive a welcome letter by mail, but billing will remain paperless unless they change their preference in their member account.
Important Reminders about Agent of Record:
- Your NPN will remain the AOR on crosswalked plans as long as your BCBSM appointment is active.
- To get appointed with BCBSM, follow the online appointment process at https://www.bcbsm.com/agents/become-agent/
New Report Available:
- In the Individual Business Agent Community, you’ll find the ACA Crosswalk Book of Business report. This report lists all members crosswalked into a BCN plan and confirms that you are the Agent of Record (AOR).
- The report does not display the carrier the member originated from
It shows the specific BCN plan each member was assigned to, allowing you to quickly verify coverage and reach out as needed.
The Agility Difference
With the ongoing evolution of the insurance market, Agility develops success and discipline through our team’s expertise to position you for growth. With Agility, you get:
- Local market managers who offer regional insight and grassroots intelligence about what’s happening in your markets.
- Dedicated Producer Support at (866) 590-9771 or support@enrollinsurance.com to answer any insurance questions and direct you to our Medicare, ACA, and ancillary experts. They can also add you to our weekly email list for tips and updates.
Let Agility empower you to enhance your capabilities and capture the OEP opportunities available.
Given recent industry changes, Agility has valuable resources and guidance from BCBSMI to help agents successfully navigate the ACA Open Enrollment and Medicare Annual Enrollment Periods.
Catastrophic Plan Eligibility
Effective 2026, individuals who do not qualify for federal tax credits are now eligible to enroll in Catastrophic health plans through the hardship exemption pathway.
Enrollment Procedure
All applicants must first apply on the Marketplace to obtain official eligibility determination documentation confirming their qualification for Catastrophic coverage. Upon receiving their eligibility confirmation, members may apply using either of the following channels:
- On Marketplace: Complete enrollment directly through the Marketplace platform.
- Off Marketplace: Complete a paper application and submit it, along with their eligibility results, via email to ibuenrollment@bcbsm.com.
Important Considerations
Applicants applying to Off Marketplace should allow appropriate processing time for application review and enrollment completion. All eligibility documentation must accompany paper submissions to ensure timely processing.
*Please note that all other applications must be submitted electronically.*
HSA Eligibility
All 2026 Bronze and Catastrophic plans are now HSA eligible. This excludes BCBSMI Bronze Plus plans available only off-market.
All other Bronze and Catastrophic plans are HSA-eligible and were purchased both on and off the market.
OFF Market Only Plans
- New 2026 Plus plans offering copays on various benefits before the deductible
- HSA plans offering lower deductibles and a larger spread between the deductible and out-of-pocket max
- Silver Off-Market plans, now named “Silver Secure,” are still available for 2026
Medicare Disenrollment Confirmation Letter Details
BCBSMI recently sent a letter with a heading of:
Notice to Confirm Disenrollment Following Receipt of Transaction Reply Report (DTRR)
to some members enrolled in a plan that will no longer be available in 2026 due to plan cancellation or a reduction in service area.
If your member was enrolled in Essential, Prime Value, or Meijer+ and the plan is no longer offered in the member’s area, or if your member was enrolled in the cancelled plans Part B Credit, Community Value, or Local, this letter confirms the disenrollment from the 2025 plan.
If members are enrolled in a new 2026 plan, this letter can be disregarded; they remain enrolled in their 2026 plan. With the ongoing evolution of the insurance market, Agility develops success and discipline through our team’s expertise to position you for growth.
With Agility, you get:
- Local market managers who offer regional insight and grassroots intelligence about what’s happening in your markets.
- Dedicated Producer Support at (866) 590-9771 or support@enrollinsurance.com to answer any insurance questions and direct you to our Medicare, ACA, and ancillary experts. They can also add you to our weekly email list for tips and updates.
Let Agility empower you to evolve your capabilities and capture the opportunities in front of you.
