Meridian
Meridian is a Michigan-based managed care organization and Centene subsidiary providing Medicaid, Medicare-Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and ACA Marketplace health plans to government-sponsored populations across all Michigan counties, supported by 46 embedded Community Health Workers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersDetroit, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Meridian does
Meridian is a Michigan-based managed care organization and wholly-owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), operating as a government-sponsored health plan since 1997. Headquartered in Detroit with 501-1,000 employees, Meridian delivers healthcare coverage across four product lines: the Meridian Medicaid Plan (core), MeridianComplete Medicare-Medicaid Plan (MMP), Wellcare by Meridian Medicare Advantage including an integrated D-SNP, and Ambetter from Meridian on the ACA Health Insurance Marketplace. Members are enrolled through state channels (Michigan ENROLLS, MI Bridges) or federal Marketplace platforms, with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services serving as the primary contracted payer for Medicaid capitation revenue.
The underlying platform is a regulated managed care technology stack including member and provider web portals, a mobile application, claims processing systems, utilization management workflows, and FHIR-based Patient Access and Provider Directory APIs compliant with CMS-9115-F interoperability rules. The SDoH Assessment Tool integrates social determinants of health screening into the member portal, connecting members to 46 locally-based Community Health Workers covering every county in Michigan. Value-added service modules include the Start Smart for Your Baby maternal program, My Health Pays rewards program, disease management coaching, doula services via the Mae partnership, Pyx Health mental health support, and SafeRide non-emergency medical transportation.
Meridian's revenue model is built on recurring per-member capitation premiums from MDHHS for Medicaid, CMS for Medicare, and federal Marketplace premium subsidies for Ambetter plans. There are no co-pays or cost-sharing for Medicaid members. The go-to-market combines sales-led state contract acquisition with community-led engagement through embedded Community Health Workers and partnerships with schools, providers, and community-based organizations. NCQA Health Equity Accreditation and LTSS Distinction provide regulatory differentiation in serving vulnerable and complex-needs populations. Meridian operates exclusively within Michigan, with no disclosed plans for geographic expansion beyond the state.
Meridian firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Meridian
- Legal name
- Meridian
- Website
- https://mimeridian.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Meridian is a Michigan-based managed care organization and Centene subsidiary providing Medicaid, Medicare-Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and ACA Marketplace health plans to government-sponsored populations across all Michigan counties, supported by 46 embedded Community Health Workers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Meridian industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Managed Care / Government-Sponsored Health Insurance
- NAICS
- Health Care and Social Assistance (62), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)
- SIC
- Services-Health Services (8000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Healthcare-Linked Social Benefits Administration (e.g., Medicaid/Means-Tested Health Coverage) (BPAIAKAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Medicare Provider Networks & Delegated Medical Groups (MA-focused) (FSAIAGAK), Care Navigation, Referral & Digital Front Door Platforms (HLALABAH)
Keywords
Where Meridian is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Detroit
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Meridian business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Medicaid Managed Care Premiums: Meridian receives capitation payments from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) in exchange for providing healthcare coverage to Medicaid-eligible members. The state pays premiums on behalf of eligible members.
- Medicare Advantage Premiums: Revenue from Medicare Advantage plans including Medicare Prescription Drug Plans under the Wellcare brand.
- Medicare-Medicaid Plan (MMP) Premiums: Dual-eligible special needs plan combining Medicare and Medicaid coverage for individuals qualifying for both programs.
- Health Insurance Marketplace Premiums: Revenue from Ambetter from Meridian plans offered through the Health Insurance Marketplace.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Medicaid Coverage - No Cost to Members |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Meridian product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Meridian is a Michigan-based managed care organization that delivers government-sponsored health insurance plans — including Medicaid, Medicare-Medicaid Plans (MeridianComplete), Medicare Advantage (Wellcare by Meridian), and Health Insurance Marketplace plans (Ambetter from Meridian). The company pairs these insurance products with value-added care management programs such as Start Smart for Your Baby (maternal health), My Health Pays rewards, Community Health Workers, Doula Services, Health Coaching, and the Pyx Health mental health support program, and operates member and provider digital portals along with FHIR-based interoperability APIs.
Product overview
Meridian is a Michigan Medicaid managed care organization and subsidiary of Centene Corporation offering a platform of health insurance products and integrated care services. The core products include the Meridian Medicaid Plan, Wellcare by Meridian (Medicare D-SNP), Ambetter from Meridian (Marketplace), and MeridianComplete (Medicare-Medicaid Plan). These insurance products are supported by value-added services including the Start Smart for Your Baby maternal program, My Health Pays rewards program, Health Coaching Programs (diabetes, heart, lung, lifestyle), Community Health Workers, Doula Services, and the Pyx Health mental health support program. Digital access is provided through Member and Provider web portals and mobile applications, all connected via FHIR-based APIs for interoperability.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Meridian Medicaid Plan Michigan Medicaid managed care plan providing healthcare coverage and care management services to families, children, seniors, and individuals with complex medical needs who meet Michigan Medicaid eligibility rules.
- Wellcare by Meridian (Medicare D-SNP Plan) Medicare Dual Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) combining Medicare and Medicaid benefits for Michigan individuals eligible for both programs.
- Ambetter from Meridian (Health Insurance Marketplace Plan) ACA Health Insurance Marketplace plan for individuals and families purchasing coverage through the Affordable Care Act exchange in Michigan.
- MeridianComplete (Medicare-Medicaid Plan / MMP) Integrated Medicare-Medicaid Plan (MMP) for Michigan individuals eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, providing coordinated coverage under a single plan.
- Start Smart for Your Baby Maternal and infant health program providing education, care management, and outreach support for pregnant members, new mothers, and their babies to reduce risks of premature births and NICU admissions.
- My Health Pays Rewards Program Member incentive program rewarding completion of healthy activities such as wellness exams, screenings, and vaccinations, with rewards usable for utilities, transportation, childcare, education, rent, and retail purchases.
- Health Coaching Programs Suite of disease management and lifestyle coaching programs including diabetes, heart health, lung health (asthma/COPD), and lifestyle management (weight, exercise, nutrition, stress, smoking cessation).
- Community Health Workers Program Program staffed by 46 locally-based Community Health Workers covering every county in Michigan's service area, conducting face-to-face visits to assist members with healthcare navigation and social determinants of health needs.
- Doula Services Coverage of doula visits during pregnancy, delivery, and up to one year postpartum, including emotional and physical support, prenatal education, birth plan assistance, and culturally competent care.
- Maternal Infant Health Program (MIHP) Home visiting program for Medicaid-eligible pregnant people and infants providing prenatal teaching, childbirth education, nutritional support, breastfeeding support, and referrals to community resources.
- Pyx Health Multi-program Mental health and social support program connecting members to compassionate staff, health plan benefits, and community resources through app-based or phone-based access.
- Health Insurance Portal Mobile App Mobile application for members to access their health insurance information, manage benefits, view claims, and connect with healthcare resources on-the-go.
- Member Portal Online portal for members to access their health records, manage benefits, view claims status, find providers, complete health assessments, and communicate with member services.
- Provider Portal Online portal for healthcare providers to submit prior authorizations, appeals, check claims status, access provider resources, training materials, and bulletins.
Quantifiable outcome
- Bronze Stevie Award for Sales & Customer Service in the 18th annual Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Meridian
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Meridian technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature3 records
Meridian partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Centene CorporationcoreMeridian is a Centene Corporation company. Centene is a Fortune 500 healthcare enterprise committed to helping people live healthier lives through local brands and teams providing fully integrated, high-quality, and cost-effective services to government-sponsored and commercial healthcare programs.
- Delta DentalcoreMeridian partners with Delta Dental to provide dental coverage to Michigan Medicaid members. Delta Dental provides dental benefits through their Medicaid EPO Network. Children under 21 on Medicaid are covered through Healthy Kids Dental program with Delta Dental of Michigan or Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
- MaesupportingMeridian partners with Mae, a digital health platform, to help connect members to doulas that match their cultural preferences. The partnership supports culturally competent maternal care through technology-enabled matching services.
- CentaurisupportingMeridian has partnered with Centauri to help members find out if they may qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and to assist with the application process. Members can apply without affecting their Meridian benefits.
- SafeRidesupportingSafeRide provides non-emergency medical transportation services for Meridian members, including rides to medical appointments and gas mileage reimbursement through their online platform.
- Michigan 211supportingMichigan 211 provides a searchable directory of over 27,000 programs for Michigan residents, integrated into Meridian's Community Resource Library to connect members with social services.
- Maternal Infant Health Program (MIHP) AgenciescoreMeridian partners with MIHP agencies across Michigan to provide home visiting services for pregnant members including prenatal teaching, childbirth education, nutritional support, breastfeeding support, and newborn assessments.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Meridian competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Molina Healthcare: Molina Healthcare is a Fortune 500 managed care company specializing in Medicaid, Medicare, and Marketplace plans across multiple states, including Michigan. It is one of Meridian's most direct competitors in the Michigan Medicaid MCO market with a comparable product portfolio and government-program focus.
- UnitedHealthcare Community & State: UnitedHealthcare's Community & State segment is the largest U.S. Medicaid managed care operator and a direct competitor to Meridian in Michigan Medicaid, Medicare-Medicaid Plans, and Marketplace plans, with comparable member-facing technology and provider network models.
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (Blue Cross Complete): Blue Cross Complete is BCBSM's Medicaid managed care subsidiary in Michigan, competing head-to-head with Meridian for Medicaid beneficiaries across the same counties. As the state's most established insurer brand, it is among Meridian's strongest in-state competitors.
- Aetna Better Health of Michigan: Aetna (CVS Health) operates Aetna Better Health as its Medicaid MCO arm, including Michigan. It is a direct peer offering Medicaid managed care to comparable populations with similar value-added services and provider contracting models.
Regional players
- Priority Health Choice: Priority Health is a Michigan-based regional health plan offering Medicaid (Priority Health Choice), Medicare, and commercial products in Michigan. It is a comparable regional competitor focused specifically on the same state as Meridian.
- McLaren Health Plan: McLaren Health Plan is a Michigan-based HMO owned by McLaren Health Care that offers Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and commercial plans in Michigan. It is a comparable regional player competing in the same Michigan Medicaid market.
- HAP Empowered (Henry Ford Health): HAP Empowered is the Medicaid product of Health Alliance Plan, part of the Henry Ford Health system, operating in southeastern Michigan. It is a regional Michigan Medicaid competitor with a provider-integrated model similar to Meridian's value-based care positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Centene Corporation: Centene is Meridian's Fortune 500 parent and the largest U.S. Medicaid managed care company. While Meridian is one of many Centene state subsidiaries, Centene as a whole is the broad incumbent whose Medicaid playbook, technology platforms, and capital underpin Meridian's operations.
- Humana (CenterWell): Humana is a broad incumbent in Medicare Advantage and Dual Special Needs Plans — directly comparable to Meridian's Wellcare D-SNP and MeridianComplete MMP offerings — and competes with Meridian for dual-eligible and Medicare populations in Michigan and other states.
- Elevance Health (Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield): Elevance Health operates Anthem-affiliated Medicaid plans across more than 20 states and competes broadly with Meridian in the government-sponsored managed care market, particularly in Marketplace (Ambetter-equivalent) and Medicare Advantage products.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Meridian social profiles
Digital presenceMeridian compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Meridian financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Meridian leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Meridian funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Meridian M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments2 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Meridian
What does Meridian do?
Meridian is a Michigan-based managed care organization that delivers government-sponsored health insurance plans — including Medicaid, Medicare-Medicaid Plans (MeridianComplete), Medicare Advantage (Wellcare by Meridian), and Health Insurance Marketplace plans (Ambetter from Meridian). The company pairs these insurance products with value-added care management programs such as Start Smart for Your Baby (maternal health), My Health Pays rewards, Community Health Workers, Doula Services, Health Coaching, and the Pyx Health mental health support program, and operates member and provider digital portals along with FHIR-based interoperability APIs.
Is Meridian a public or private company?
Meridian is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Meridian founded?
Meridian was founded in 1997. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Meridian based?
Meridian is headquartered in Detroit, United States, in the North America region.
How does Meridian make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Medicaid Managed Care Premiums are the primary driver. The others are medicare Advantage Premiums, medicare-Medicaid Plan (MMP) Premiums and health Insurance Marketplace Premiums.
Who are Meridian's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Molina Healthcare, UnitedHealthcare Community & State, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (Blue Cross Complete) and Aetna Better Health of Michigan. Regional players are Priority Health Choice, McLaren Health Plan and HAP Empowered (Henry Ford Health). Broad incumbents are Centene Corporation, Humana (CenterWell) and Elevance Health (Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield).
Does Meridian have an API?
Yes. Meridian offers FHIR-based APIs for Patient Access (allowing members to access their health data via third-party apps) and Provider Directory (for locating healthcare providers). Access is through Centene's Partner Portal at partners.centene.com/apis. The Patient Access API supports data types including claims, medications, procedures, lab results, immunizations, and clinical information. The Provider Directory API enables searching for healthcare providers in the network. Developer documentation is at partners.centene.com/apis.
What industry is Meridian in?
Meridian's product category is Managed Care / Government-Sponsored Health Insurance. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAKAH, Healthcare-Linked Social Benefits Administration (e.g., Medicaid/Means-Tested Health Coverage), with a secondary code of FSAIAGAK, Medicare Provider Networks & Delegated Medical Groups (MA-focused). Its NAICS code is 62 and its SIC code is 8000.