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Medicaid (also called Medical Assistance, or MA) is health insurance for people with low income. In Michigan, there is traditional Medicaid (TM) and the Healthy Michigan Plan (HMP). HMP started as part of the Affordable Care Act.
Beginning on January 1, 2027, if you receive or apply for Healthy Michigan Plan you may be required to work or complete approved activities. Many people are already working or have an exception(exclusion).
Who Is Eligible?
To be eligible for TM or HMP, you must meet certain requirements. Some requirements have to do with how much income you have or whether you need to work. Others have to do with nonfinancial things like your citizenship and Michigan residence. You could also be eligible based on age, disability, or blindness. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) will review your application to decide if you are eligible.
There are a few common requirements for both HMP and TM. There are some requirements that apply to only one program. For example, TM has an asset limit while HMP does not. Also, TM has many categories, or sub-programs within it. You must fit into one of those categories to get TM. There are no categories with HMP.
There are some groups of people who are not eligible for HMP. These individuals are:
- Minor children
- Pregnant women
- People 65 or older
- People getting Medicare
These groups of people fall into categories for TM. So if they meet the other eligibility requirements, they will get TM.
TM Categories
The TM categories are divided into two groups: Group 1 and Group 2. These categories have different income requirements.
To qualify for Group 1 programs, you need to be at or below a certain net income level. Net income is countable income minus allowed deductions.
Group 2 programs also have a net income limit, but you can be eligible for Group 2 programs even if your income is over the limit. This is because Group 2 programs also use the medical bills you pay to determine your eligibility.
Group 2 programs can sometimes have a deductible (spend-down). A deductible is an amount of your health care costs you are responsible for before your benefits start. For example, if you have a $100 deductible, you are responsible for the first $100 of your health care costs before your benefits start.
To learn about the TM categories in Michigan, visit “Health Care Programs Eligibility” on the MDHHS website.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Related Medicaid
You are automatically eligible for TM if you get SSI and both of these are true:
- You are a Michigan resident
- You cooperate with third-party resource liability requirements
A third-party resource is a person, business, or program that is or could be liable to pay for part or all of your medical expenses.
Even if you don’t get SSI, you may still be eligible for either HMP or TM based on your age, being disabled or blind. To learn more about this, you can speak with someone at the Michigan Options system (MI Options). MI Options is a free, state-wide counseling service designed to help people with questions about health care and other long-term adult services.
Your local legal services office may also be able to help you for free. Use the Guide to Legal Help to find a legal services office near you. Even if they are not able to represent you, they could still offer you advice and other help.
Another place where you could find help is from a local health center from the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA). They often have patient advocates who can help answer questions about Medicaid. Use the locator tool to find a health center near you.
Disabled Adult Children
Some disabled adult children (DAC) are eligible for TM if they meet certain requirements. In order to be eligible, they must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have received SSI in the past but stopped getting it because they became eligible for DAC Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (RSDI) benefits
- Be eligible for SSI if not for the RSDI benefits
To learn more, you can speak with someone at MI Options. Your local legal services office may also be able to help you. Use the Guide to Legal Help to find a legal services office near you.
You can also contact a local HRSA. Use the locator tool to find a health center near you.
Income and Asset Limits
HMP and each TM category have income limits. Income is money you get. Some examples include wages, child support, disability benefits and unemployment.
Some TM categories also have asset limits. Assets are things you own. There is no asset limit for TM categories for eligible children, pregnant women, and some families with minor children. HMP programs do not have asset limits.
To learn more about income and asset limits, read Income and Asset Limits for Medicaid.
Other Eligibility Requirements
Along with income and asset limits, you must meet other requirements to be eligible for TM or HMP. Some of these requirements relate to where you live (residency) and your citizenship.
Michigan Resident
To be eligible for TM or HMP, you must be a Michigan resident. Being a Michigan resident means you live in Michigan. You can still be eligible if you leave the state only if you plan to come back.
If you are homeless, you may still be eligible for TM or HMP. Not having a permanent address does not affect your status as a Michigan resident. You will not be denied TM or HMP just because you are homeless.
Citizenship and Immigration Requirements
You must be a U.S. citizen or have a specific immigration status to get TM or HMP. New federal rules will change eligibility for some noncitizens. Beginning in October 2026, only the following noncitizens will be eligible for full Medicaid coverage:
- Legal permanent residents (green card holders)
- Certain Cuban/Haitian entrants,
- Compacts of Free Association (COFA) migrants
- Pregnant individuals and children under 21 who lawfully live in the U.S (lawful status).
Most legal permanent residents must have lawful status for al least five years to be eligible for Medicaid. Individuals who become lawful permanent residents because of their humanitarian status (e.g., refugee, asylee, or trafficking victim) will not need to wait five years.
If you are in one of these groups, but you get a notice from MDHHS that says your Medicaid coverage is ending, you can request a hearing to prove your status. You can use the Do-It-Yourself MDHHS Hearing Request tool to complete your request.
Many noncitizens are no longer eligible for or may lose full Medicaid coverage because of these new rules. Some groups that are no longer eligible include refugees, asylees, people granted withholding without removal, trafficking and domestic violence survivors.
If you are a noncitizen who is now ineligible for full coverage Medicaid, your coverage will change to emergency medical services. You do not have to be a U.S. citizen or have lawful status to get emergency services.
If you lose your Medicaid coverage you should receive a notice from MDHHS before any change happens. You can visit the MDHHS’s website to learn more information about Changes to Medicaid For Certain Non-Citizens, or other Resources (in English, Spanish, and Arabic) from Michigan Nonprofit Association. These resources include a list of steps noncitizens can take to prepare for these changes.
To learn more about all of these requirements, you can speak with someone at MI Options. Your local legal services office may also be able to help you. Use the Guide to Legal Help to find a legal services office near you. Even if they cannot represent you, they could still offer you advice and other help.
You can also contact a local HRSA. Use the locator tool to find a health center near you.
Understanding Medicaid Work Rules
Starting in January 2027, Healthy Michigan Plan (HMP) recipients (receivers) will be required to follow work requirements unless they have an exception.
The Freedom to Work program lets people with disabilities get traditional Medicaid (TM) while working.
New Work Requirements for Healthy Michigan Plain
When the work requirements begin on January 1, 2027, they will not apply to everyone.
You may have to meet the work requirement if:
- You get Medicaid through the Healthy Michigan Plan (HMP)
- You are 19 through 64 years old, and
- You do not qualify for an exception (exclusion).
To see if you have HMP coverage, you can check your MI Bridges account or call the beneficiary help line at 1-800-642-3195.
Exclusions from the Work Requirement
You may not have to meet the work requirement if you:
- Are pregnant or were pregnant in the last year.
- Are a parent, caregiver, or guardian for a child under 14.
- Care for a person with a disability.
- Have a disability, mental health disorder, or are medically frail.
- Have a substance use disorder or are in a treatment program.
- Are a disabled veteran.
- Meet certain requirements for American Indian or Alaska Native groups.
- Are a current or former foster child under 26.
- Already meet work requirements for FAP (SNAP) or TANF.
- Are in jail or prison or were released in the past 3 months
- Are experiencing temporary hardship (a short-term situation that makes it hard to work or complete other approved activities).
- Qualify for another federal or state exclusion.
The rules for an exclusion can depend on your situation. Tell MDHHS if you think an exclusion applies to you. Ask what proof you need to provide.
If You Must Meet the Work Requirement
You can meet the work requirements in two different ways:
Complete 80 hours each month of work or another approved activity.
Make at least $580.00 from a job in one month.
Approved activities may include the following:
- Paid or unpaid work, including self-employment.
- Community service or volunteering.
- Attending high school, a GED program, college or vocational program.
- Certain job-training programs.
You can combine different approved activities to reach 80 hours.
Why This Matters
If the work requirement applies to you and you do not meet it, you could lose Medicaid coverage or be denied coverage.
To protect your coverage:
- Find out whether the work requirement applies to you.
- Ask MDHHS whether you qualify for an exclusion.
- Keep records of your work, approved activities, or medical conditions.
- Give MDHHS the information it requests.
- Read all notices from MDHHS and respond by the deadline.
If you have HMP and you must follow the work requirements, MDHHS will send you a notice about it through mail or your MI Bridges account. MDHHS must also check your eligibility to renew your coverage every six months instead of once per year, beginning on January 1, 2027.
To learn more information about how to report your work, approved activities or exceptions to MDHHS and other latest updates, visit its website at, New Healthy Michigan Plan Work Requirements.
Freedom to Work
To be eligible for Freedom to Work while getting TM, you must meet all of the following requirements:
- Be disabled according to Social Security Administration standards
- Be working
- Be between the ages of 16 and 64
There is an income and asset limit. If you earn a substantial income from work, you may have to pay a premium (monthly payment) on your coverage. The premium amount increases the more money you make.
To learn more, you can speak with someone at MI Options. Your local legal services office may also be able to help you. Use the Guide to Legal Help to find a legal services office near you.
You can also contact a local HRSA. Use the locator tool to find a health center near you.
How Do I Apply?
To apply for TM or HMP, submit an application to MDHHS. The fastest way to apply is online through the MI Bridges Portal. If you apply online, you will have proof of your application. You can also apply in person at your local MDHHS office. Your local MDHHS office has to give you a paper application form if you ask for it. You can also print an application form and fill it out before going to MDHHS.
You can have a friend or family member help you complete the application. If you have trouble reading or writing, MDHHS must help you, but you need to let them know that you need help. Some MDHHS offices have computer stations where you can apply online through the MI Bridges Portal with help from an employee.
When you apply, you will be asked to show important parts of your application. Gather personal documents such as your birth certificate, Social Security card, state ID card, driver license, or passport. You may also need documents that show your income and expenses. This could include pay stubs and bank statements. These documents must be less than 30 days old.
Beginning January 1, 2027, the Medicaid application will also include questions about your work or exemption (exception) status. MDHHS will contact you if more information is needed.
When you submit your application, you are swearing that all of the information you gave is true and complete to the best of your knowledge. If you don’t understand a question, it is better to ask for help than to guess.
If you speak limited English, MDHHS must provide you with an interpreter. Be sure to tell MDHHS that you need an interpreter or need help understanding documents in English. You have a right to bring your own interpreter if you prefer. The application is also available in Spanish and Arabic. You can also apply online and have someone help you.
In most cases, MDHHS has 45 days to make a decision after you apply. If MDHHS needs to make a disability determination as part of your application, it has 90 days to make a decision. If you are pregnant when you apply, MDHHS has 15 days to make a decision.
Getting HMP/TM
If you are approved for TM or HMP, you will get an eligibility letter explaining your coverage and an enrollment card. If you have questions about your coverage, you can call member services using the number on your letter or the back of your enrollment card.
If you’re not sure whether your doctor and pharmacist accept your insurance plan, you can call their office to find out. You can also look on your program’s website for a list of providers.
Mistakes in Billing
In order to avoid issues with billing, make sure your providers accept your coverage before visiting their office or getting a product or medication from them. Be sure to update them if any information changes.
Reporting Changes
Report any changes in your household size, income, or assets to MDHHS. You must report the changes within 10 days of the change. If you do not, your benefits could be reduced or stopped.
The easiest and most reliable way to report changes is online using MI Bridges. You can also call MI Bridges at 888-642-7434 or use DHS Form-2240 to report changes.
If you report a change and there is negative action you do not agree with (for example, you lose your coverage or your deductible increases), you have the right to request a hearing. You can use the Do-It-Yourself MDHHS Hearing Request tool to complete your request. Make a copy of the form to keep for your records.
Request a Hearing After Denial or Termination or Decrease in Benefits
If MDHHS takes an action or makes a decision you do not agree with, you can request a hearing. You can use the Do-It-Yourself MDHHS Hearing Request tool to complete your request. If you ask MDHHS for a hearing before the required date listed on your notice, you most likely will get to keep your benefits while you wait for a decision.
You can mail, or drop off your request in person. If you choose to mail your request, you may want to send it by certified mail to have proof of when you sent it. Be sure to direct it to the “Hearing Coordinator”, not your caseworker.
If you drop off your request, sign the log book in the office lobby (if available). If you have a camera phone, take a picture of your signature in the log book for your records. You could also ask the person who takes the form to stamp your copy as proof of when you dropped it off.
If You Win
If you win, MDHHS will pay any bill you got from a provider (such as a doctor or therapist) when you didn’t have coverage. If you paid for any medical expense out-of-pocket, you could be reimbursed for that. Asking for this could be complex. You may want to speak with a lawyer who can help you ask for reimbursements. Use the Guide to Legal Help to find lawyers or a legal services office near you.