MDHHS launches tool to help Healthy Michigan Plan beneficiaries navigate new federal work requirements for Medicaid

State continues efforts to help ensure families keep their health care coverage

LANSING, Mich. - As part of efforts to prepare Michigan residents for federally required Medicaid work requirements that begin Friday, Jan. 1, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has launched a new tool to help assist Healthy Michigan Plan (HMP) enrollees with these new conditions.

The Michigan Work and Exemptions Screening Tool (MI WEST) is designed to guide beneficiaries through the requirements they need to meet to maintain health care coverage. MI WEST asks a series of questions to help identify whether someone may qualify for an exemption, is already meeting work requirements or may need to take additional steps. The tool serves as an informational resource, not an official application or renewal.

"We are committed to helping beneficiaries understand and comply with these new rules so we can keep as many eligible Michiganders covered as possible," said Amy Epkey, acting MDHHS director. "The Michigan Work and Exemptions Screening Tool will help beneficiaries as they apply for benefits or are going through the renewal process to ensure they are meeting the requirements and providing the appropriate documentation."

The tool was developed by Civilla, a nonprofit civic design firm, through a human-centered design process that included interviews, user testing and feedback from Medicaid beneficiaries, community-based organizations and other partners. The tool's development was funded by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund.

Due to the passage of H.R. 1., certain HMP members between the ages of 19 and 64 may need to meet new work requirements or qualify for an exemption to maintain coverage. Of the approximately 2.5 million Michigan residents who receive Medicaid coverage, about 625,000 are enrolled in HMP. Examples of enrollees who may be exempt include parents or caregivers of a child age 13 or under, people who are pregnant or recently gave birth, people who have certain medical conditions or disabilities and veterans with a total disability rating.

People who are not exempt will be able to meet the work requirements through various approved activities including working, volunteering, going to school or participating in a work program. They can meet the requirements by earning at least $580 or completing a minimum of 80 hours of approved activities in one month between each of their renewals. Most HMP beneficiaries will also transition from annual renewals of their Medicaid coverage to six-month renewals.

To reduce administrative burden, MDHHS will use available data to determine exemptions or confirm compliance for beneficiaries. If additional information is needed, MDHHS will notify beneficiaries about what they need to provide and when.

"Health care coverage is critical to helping Michiganders access the care they need to stay healthy," said Meghan Groen, Medicaid director, MDHHS. "Michigan has been preparing for these federally required changes, and our focus is on helping beneficiaries understand what applies to them while making the process as straightforward as possible."

When work requirements take effect

Although work requirements begin Friday, Jan. 1, beneficiaries will see these changes at different times depending on whether they are applying for coverage or are already enrolled.

New applicants who are subject to work requirements must meet them in the month before or the month they apply, beginning Friday, Jan. 1. For current beneficiaries, work requirements will first be reviewed at their renewals starting on or after Monday, March 1. Those with January or February 2027 renewals will not be reviewed for work requirements until their renewals in 2028.

To stay up to date, MDHHS encourages anyone with Medicaid coverage to:

• Make sure their information is current in their MI Bridges account.

• Watch for and read notices received from MDHHS regarding their health care coverage.

• Respond promptly to any requests for information from MDHHS.

• Visit Michigan.gov/HMP for updates and additional information about work requirements.

MDHHS will continue providing updates as planning for these changes progresses and additional details become available. More information is available at Michigan.gov/HMP, including materials, resources and FAQs.

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To help Medicaid beneficiaries apply for and keep their health care coverage, MDHHS has improved processes and procedures including:

• Used human-centered design principles to design notices, applications and renewal materials so they are clearer, shorter and easier to understand.

• Improved MI Bridges based on user feedback to make it easier to apply, renew, upload documents and check benefit status.

• Expanded the use of data sources from state and federal partners to help determine income, residency and program eligibility information to automatically renew coverage when possible, reducing the need for beneficiaries to submit paperwork.

• Increased the number of renewals that can be completed without forms.

• Added hands-on support for beneficiaries during applications and renewals with community navigators and additional local office staff through investments in the FY 2027 budget.