Nationwide, Medicaid beneficiaries will have to renew their coverage starting this year to comply with federal legislation. In Michigan, annual renewals will begin again in June 2023.

If you receive notice that you or a family member are no longer eligible for Medicaid or MIChild benefits, don’t worry, you have other options, including options for low or no-cost coverage:

Purchasing a plan on the Health Insurance Marketplace. Thanks to savings recently put in place by the federal government, many Michiganders are eligible to buy a Marketplace plan for less than $10 per month. Free local enrollment help is available in-person, over the phone, or by email to help you choose the plan that meets your needs and budget.

Enrolling in employer-sponsored health coverage through your job. Many employers offer health insurance to their employees, and those plans often offer a special enrollment period, for employees who experience a qualifying life event, such as losing Medicaid coverage.

Enrolling in Medicare. Eligible seniors who missed their initial enrollment window and lose their Medicaid coverage can enroll in Medicare Parts A and B, Part C, and/or Medicare Supplement plan. Free help is available to seniors who need assistance enrolling.

Having health insurance is important, not just for when you are sick or hurt, but also to help you stay healthy and avoid big medical bills. It is important to take action as soon as possible to reduce the risks that come from a lapse in coverage.

To learn more about how to get the health insurance you need, visit Michigan.gov/StayCovered or call the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services at 877-999-6442, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

More information about changes to food assistance and Medicaid benefits connected to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency can be found at Michigan.gov/2023BenefitChanges.

from MDHHS

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government authorized extra food assistance to address food insecurity among residents. The extra benefits increased food assistance amounts to the maximum allowable per eligible group regardless of income level, or a minimum of $95 in extra benefits to groups already receiving the maximum amount. These extra benefits will end in February 2023 due to recent federal legislation. You will receive your regular benefit amount beginning in March 2023.

What this means to groups receiving food assistance

Your total food assistance benefits will be less as your regular food assistance benefit will no longer include the issuance of extra food assistance beginning March 2023. Examples of how benefits will change:

[1] Group size is the number of individuals who are on your food assistance case. [2] Net Monthly Income is your gross (not take home) income minus your allowable deductions (rent, mortgage, utilities, childcare expenses etc.)

What should you do?

You should prepare and seek out any needed resources to accommodate this reduction to your benefits.

How to find your regular food assistance benefit amount:

You can find your regular benefit amount by logging into your MIBridges account at MIBridges You can also find your regular benefit amount by calling 1-844-464-3447 and following the prompts to check your benefits. FIS ebtEDGE portal shows your regular benefit amount, see instructions below. Regular food assistance benefits and the extra COVID-19 benefits are put on your EBT card at different times during the month.

• Regular food assistance benefits are put on your card between the 3^rd and the 21^st of the month on the same date every month.
• Extra COVID-19 benefits are put on your card between the 17^th and the 29^th of the month, but the date you receive them may change from month to month.

The food assistance benefits on your Bridge Card do not expire at the end of the month they are issued. The unused benefits are available for 274 days after issuance. Portal Instructions Additional Resources Informational Flyer FAQs

During the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), many changes were made to the Medicaid program’s eligibility, administration, and policies to ease rules for providers and prevent Medicaid beneficiaries from losing their healthcare coverage.  It is anticipated that the US Department of Health and Human Services will soon announce the end of the current federal PHE. Michigan will restart Medicaid eligibility renewals and certain waived policies that were in place during the pandemic when the federal PHE ends.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is preparing for the end of the federal PHE. This website will be continually updated with the latest information as the department restarts processes and releases updated policies.

Have you moved in the past three years? Has your address or contact information changed? Please make sure MEDICAID/CHIP has your current mobile phone number, email, and mailing address so our records are up to date. It’s important to make sure we can reach you with information about changes to your MEDICAID/CHIP health insurance. There may be steps you need to take to keep your coverage.

Visit MIBridges to update your information.