Michigan Medicaid Office

Michigan Medicaid office (MDHHS)

Michigan groups every health-related public benefit under one cabinet agency: the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The Health Services administration inside MDHHS combines the state's Medicaid office, aging services, and community-based services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, serious mental illness, and substance use disorders. Day-to-day applications and renewals run through MI Bridges, the consumer-facing benefits portal.

How to reach MDHHS

• MDHHS main line — 517-241-3740, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern.
• MI Bridges — newmibridges.michigan.gov for applications, renewals, document uploads, and the Mandated Reporters intake. Sign in with MILogin.
• Healthy Michigan Plan information — healthymichiganplan.org.
• Agency website — michigan.gov/mdhhs for policy bulletins, provider directories, and Medicaid changes.

MDHHS central office sits at 333 S. Grand Ave., Lansing (P.O. Box 30195, Lansing, MI 48909). Day-to-day case work happens at the local MDHHS office in each Michigan county. A standing notice on the MDHHS Medicaid page flags upcoming federal Medicaid changes under H.R. 1; MDHHS posts implementation details as guidance arrives.

Who qualifies for Michigan Medicaid?

Michigan adopted the ACA Medicaid expansion and brands the expansion group the Healthy Michigan Plan (HMP). MDHHS describes HMP as complete health care coverage for adults age 19 through 64 with household income at or below 133% of the federal poverty level. MDHHS runs several other coverage tracks alongside HMP for children, pregnant individuals, older adults, and people with disabilities.

Coverage programs

• Healthy Michigan Plan (HMP) — adults 19–64 at or below 133% FPL; MAGI budget; no asset test.
• Healthy Kids / Healthy Kids Dental — children age 19 and under and pregnant women; full medical plus dedicated dental coverage.
• MIChild — Michigan's CHIP for people 19 and under who don't have other comprehensive health insurance.
• Freedom to Work — buy-in for disabled adults age 16 through 64 with earned income.
• MI Health Link — managed care for adults 21+ enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid in specific Michigan counties.
• Children's Special Health Care Services (CSHCS) — Title V program for children and some adults with special health care needs, often layered with Medicaid.
• Flint Water health coverage — children age 21 and under and pregnant women affected by Flint water with incomes 400% FPL and less.

Asset rules

MAGI categories carry no asset test. ABD categories apply a $2,000 individual resource limit and $3,000 for couples. Freedom to Work uses a higher resource limit for workers with disabilities. Long-term care applicants face the standard $2,000 limit plus federal community-spouse protections for the at-home spouse — confirm Michigan-specific thresholds at michigan.gov/mdhhs before applying.

Renewals

MDHHS attempts an ex parte renewal first using federal and state data. When data confirms eligibility, coverage continues without paperwork. When it doesn't, a pre-populated renewal lands in MI Bridges and by mail. Sign in to MI Bridges to check your renewal due date and upload supporting documents.

Michigan Medicaid income limits

Michigan groups its income standards by program rather than by a single FPL line. The percentages MDHHS publishes for each program are listed below; specific dollar limits shift each January with the federal poverty level update. Verify a current figure at michigan.gov/mdhhs before relying on it.

What MDHHS publishes by program

Aged, Blind, or Disabled (ABD)

Medicare Savings Programs (MSP)

How to apply for Michigan Medicaid

MI Bridges is the front door for most Michigan benefits applications. Sign in with MILogin (the state's single sign-on) to apply, check status, renew, and upload documents. One application screens for Healthcare Coverage (including Medicaid and Healthy Michigan Plan), the Food Assistance Program (FAP), Cash Assistance, WIC, Child Development and Care, and State Emergency Relief.

Online: MI Bridges

Go to newmibridges.michigan.gov and create a MILogin account if you don't have one. After login, MI Bridges shows your active benefits, renewal due date, document requests from your caseworker, and an "Explore Resources" tab linking to community help with food, housing, transportation, and other needs.

In person at a county MDHHS office

MI Bridges includes a "Find a MDHHS Office" search by county. Local MDHHS staff can complete an intake interview, accept documents, and process the application directly in the state's eligibility system.

Help applying

MI Bridges lists Navigation Partners (community organizations that walk applicants through the portal) and Access Partners (organizations that provide computers, tablets, or mobile devices for applicants who don't have their own). The Food Bank Council of Michigan offers phone-based FAP application help directly from the MI Bridges page.

Paper

MDHHS publishes a combined Application for Assistance for Medicaid, FAP, child care, and cash assistance. Download the current form from michigan.gov/mdhhs and submit it to your local MDHHS office or upload it through MI Bridges.

Decision timelines

Federal rules give MDHHS up to 45 days to decide a non-disability Medicaid application and up to 90 days for disability-based determinations. Retroactive coverage runs up to three months before the application month for households with qualifying medical bills.

What Michigan Medicaid covers

MDHHS publishes its Medicaid benefits as a menu of programs. Most enrollees pick a Medicaid Health Plan that covers Healthy Michigan Plan adults, Healthy Kids children, and Healthy Kids Dental enrollees. Specialty behavioral health and IDD services run through a separate regional prepaid plan rather than the medical MHP. Long-term services and supports for older adults and people with disabilities have their own program track.

Core medical benefits

• Primary and specialty care, urgent care, emergency services
• Hospital inpatient and outpatient care, including surgery
• Prescription drugs
• Lab and imaging
• Maternity care and postpartum coverage
• Behavioral health (mild-to-moderate through the medical MHP; specialty BH through the regional prepaid plan)
• Non-emergency medical transportation

Healthy Kids Dental

MDHHS lists Healthy Kids Dental as a dental benefit for pregnant women and children age 19 and under through a contracted dental benefit plan. The benefit is statewide; check the Healthy Kids/Healthy Kids Dental program page on michigan.gov/mdhhs for the current dental plan administrator and benefit detail.

Programs and benefits MDHHS lists separately

• MI Care Team — primary care health homes program created under Section 2703 of the ACA, delivering care coordination and comprehensive care management.
• Maternal Infant Health Program (MIHP) — care plans for pregnant women and new mothers with their infants.
• Children's Special Health Care Services (CSHCS) — coverage for children and some adults with special health care needs.
• Home Help (Independent Living Services) — help with daily activities for eligible Medicaid members.
• TCM for Justice Involved Individuals — targeted case management for Medicaid members recently incarcerated.
• MI Coordinated Health (MICH) — coordinated-care model published in the MDHHS provider portal.

MI Health Link for dual-eligibles

MI Health Link integrates Medicare and Medicaid for adults age 21 and older enrolled in both who live in participating counties. One care coordinator covers acute care, behavioral health, prescription drugs, and long-term services and supports. MDHHS publishes the current participating plans and county list under the integrated-care section on michigan.gov/mdhhs.

Long-term services and supports

The MI Choice Waiver Program funds nursing-facility-level care that can be delivered in a member's home or other residential setting for eligible adults who meet income and asset criteria. PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) covers adults 55 and older who meet Medicaid's long-term-care criteria. Nursing facility care remains covered for members who need institutional placement. Confirm waiver names, participating regions, and waitlist status on michigan.gov/mdhhs.

Other state Medicaid pages