LANSING – Consumers looking for health insurance in Michigan were able to go online to check out actual rates available through the health care exchanges, and officials reported considerable interest in the system.

Tuesday also marked the first day that information about all the different plans and rates available in the state was available. Last week, estimated average rates were released for the state by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The opening of the exchange, which was mandated by the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, was one of two major stories dominating the news cycle both nationally and in Michigan, the other being the partial shutdown of the federal government over a standoff on the health care act between congressional Republicans and Democrats. Tuesday marked the first day of the 2013-14 fiscal year for both the state and federal government.

Getting actual data from Michigan on how many people were using the exchange on the first day will prove difficult in the short-term since the state does not have its own exchange. Michigan residents seeking insurance through the exchanges will go through a federal exchange.

But an official with the state Department of Insurance and Financial Services said the department had fielded a number of calls from consumers with questions.

And an executive with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (one of the companies offering plans on the exchange) said the company’s call volume doubled on Monday over normal rates and then increased another 50 percent on Tuesday. Many of the calls asked for explanations on the differences between the plans and for how individuals would qualify for subsidies.

Also open on Tuesday were exchanges available for small businesses, those with 50 or fewer employees, to shop for insurance for their businesses. But as the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce said in an email to its members most of the day was focused on individuals being able to shop for insurance.

However, not yet available for lower-income individuals will be access to Medicaid. Legislation allowing for persons with incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level to be eligible for Medicaid will not take effect until the spring of 2014.

Actual coverage for policies bought on the exchange will not commence until January 1, 2014, and to be eligible for that coverage to begin on January 1, they must sign up by December 15.

Signing up for the program requires going to a federally run site, www.healthcare.gov. Nationally there were reports of heavy traffic on the site, and the site shutting down at times.

The Department of Insurance and Financial Services said that the average monthly cost for a plan listed as bronze – which has the cheapest rates but also requires the highest out of pocket cost – would be $275 a month.

Caleb Buhs, spokesperson for the department, said that figure was a base average developed from the rates available and not targeted to specific age ranges (older persons will pay more than younger ones for coverage). Also that rate is before federal subsidies are applied that would reduce the cost of the plan.

While the department does not oversee the exchange, it did put on its state website a rate calculator to help individuals determine what they could expect to pay in monthly premiums.

As a test, the calculator showed that a single adult, age 35 with an annual income of $30,000 wanting a mid-range plan (called a silver plan) could pay between $234.32 to $421.06 for coverage, before subsidies were calculated. Those costs would depend on the plan provider and what the plan would cover. Once subsidies were added, the costs fell to $187.35 to $373.99.

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