Medicaid Unwinding in Michigan: What You Need to Know If You Lose Coverage
Key takeaways:
Medicaid renewals in Michigan are changing because of the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) on May 11, 2023. This is being called the unwinding of Medicaid, and some people will lose coverage during this process.
During the PHE, Medicaid renewals were automatic, and enrollees had continuous coverage. As part of the unwinding process, automatic renewals for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) — which is called MIChild in Michigan — stopped nationwide on March 31, 2023.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has restarted eligibility reviews for Medicaid, the Healthy Michigan Plan, and MIChild enrollees. If you are covered by one of these plans, make sure MDHHS has your current contact information. If you can’t be reached or are no longer eligible, you could lose coverage as early as July 1, 2023.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency (PHE) for COVID-19 in January 2020. The PHE was renewed a dozen times through February 2023.
People who qualified for Medicaid during the COVID PHE were able to keep their coverage throughout the pandemic without having their eligibility reviewed. This is because all states, including Michigan, were required to provide continuous coverage during the PHE.
But the PHE ended on May 11, 2023. And that marked the end of most COVID provisions, like automatic Medicaid renewals, which stopped nationwide in March. Over the next year, these changes could cause 8 million to 24 million Medicaid enrollees across the country to lose coverage.
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Michigan has resumed eligibility reviews for people enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This includes enrollees in the Healthy Michigan Plan and MIChild, an expansion program that provides coverage to children from households with incomes slightly above Medicaid eligibility. State officials estimate that more than 200,000 people in Michigan could lose Medicaid or CHIP coverage as part of this redetermination process. And some residents will lose coverage as early as July 1, 2023.
Here’s what you need to know about Medicaid changes in Michigan, and what to do if you lose your insurance coverage.
Why is Medicaid changing nationwide?
Now that the PHE has come to an end, COVID will remain a public health priority — just not an emergency. As part of this process, Medicaid renewals will no longer be automatic. This is being referred to as the unwinding of Medicaid.
The unwinding will affect Medicaid in every state, Washington, D.C., and five U.S. territories.
What’s happening with Medicaid renewal in Michigan?
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is responsible for overseeing the state’s Medicaid and CHIP programs, which include the Healthy Michigan Plan and MIChild.
The MDHHS has released a renewal timeline that outlines how the state plans to conduct eligibility reviews for current enrollees. The agency will be processing Medicaid unwinding renewals through May 2024. And, according to state estimates, more than 3 million people in Michigan will need to renew their coverage.
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If you or someone in your household is enrolled in Medicaid, the Healthy Michigan Plan, or MIChild, it’s important for you to confirm or update your address, phone number, and email address with the MDHHS by:
Logging into your account on the MI Bridges online portal
Contacting your local MDHHS office
Calling the Medicaid Beneficiary Help Line toll-free at 1-800-642-3195
What to expect during the renewal process
The MDHHS already has enough eligibility information from other programs to renew some enrollees automatically. If you are part of this group, you will receive a letter stating that you do not need to take action and that your coverage has been renewed. If more information is needed, you will receive a renewal packet.
As part of the redetermination process, the MDHHS plans to send out three mailings to enrollees who cannot be automatically approved regarding their renewal:
Renewal awareness letter: These letters will be sent three months before an enrollee’s renewal month, alerting them that their renewal packet will be sent out soon.
Renewal packet: These letters will be mailed out one month before an enrollee’s renewal month. If you receive one of these packets, be sure to complete, sign, and return the forms by the due date. If your packet contains a verification checklist (Form 1010), you have 10 days to complete and return your packet. Otherwise, you have 30 days to respond.
Decision letter: Once the MDHHS has reviewed an enrollee’s case, they will receive a determination letter that will indicate that they are eligible for coverage, no longer eligible, or need to submit further information .
The agency began sending renewal awareness letters in March 2023 to people whose coverage was set to end in June. Renewal packets were then mailed to these enrollees in May 2023.
As mentioned, if you need to reach Michigan Medicaid by phone, call the Beneficiary Help Line toll-free at 1-800-642-3195.
Tribal health and Medicaid unwinding
The National Indian Health Board estimates that as many as 236,000 American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIs/ANs) could lose coverage during the unwinding process. In an effort to combat this, Michigan state liaisons are reaching out to Medicaid enrollees who are members of or affiliated with a Native American tribe. The MDHHS has tribal consultation concerning Medicaid and other health programs with 12 federally recognized AI/AN tribes.
What should I do if I lose my Medicaid coverage in Michigan?
In order to receive Medicaid in Michigan, you must meet all of the following criteria:
You must be a Michigan resident.
You must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or legal resident.
You must need assistance with access to healthcare or insurance coverage.
Your annual household income before taxes are withheld must be below the limit for your household size.
In Michigan, you may also qualify for reasons other than income, including if you are:
Pregnant
A child or teenager
Responsible for the care of a child who is 18 years old or younger
A woman between the ages of 18 and 55, don’t have health coverage, and meet certain criteria (such as having family planning needs)
Blind or have another disability
A household member of someone who has a qualifying disability
Age 65 or older (and meet certain criteria)
A former foster child who is 25 or younger
In need of nursing home care
In need of treatment for breast or cervical cancer (and have been diagnosed or are still undergoing treatment)
If you no longer qualify for Medicaid or the MDHHS can’t reach you during the redetermination process, you will no longer be able to use your benefits, which could leave you temporarily uninsured. You should reapply for Medicaid if you lose coverage and believe you still qualify, however. Just keep in mind that you may be without insurance while you wait to be approved.
If you choose not to reapply for Medicaid coverage, or if you’re no longer eligible, you may qualify for other low-cost or free healthcare options. You can also use GoodRx coupons to save on your prescription medications.
In addition, you may be able to enroll in an alternative health insurance plan, such as:
Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plan: You may be able to find an ACA health plan for $10 or less per month if you qualify for a premium subsidy. If you lose Medicaid coverage during the redetermination process, you can purchase a plan through the ACA marketplace during the unwinding special enrollment period from March 31, 2023 to July 31, 2024.
Employer plan: If you have a job, you may be able to get employer-sponsored health insurance.
Medicare: If you have a qualifying disability or condition — such as end-stage renal disease or ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease — you can enroll in Medicare at any age.
Partner’s plan: If you have a spouse or domestic partner who has insurance, you may be able to join their plan during an open enrollment or special enrollment period.
Special plans: Short-term insurance can be a great choice if you anticipate a better option, like job-based health insurance, will be available soon. You may also consider alternative and limited-benefit plans, such as fixed indemnity, accident, cost-sharing, and catastrophic insurance plans.
Student health plan: If you’re enrolled in a college or university, you may be eligible for a campus health plan.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits: If you are an active-duty service member or a veteran, you may qualify for TRICARE coverage or VA benefits and services.
Michigan Medicaid resources
Here are some resources where you can learn more about Medicaid in Michigan and upcoming changes related to the end of the PHE:
Michigan Medicaid office: The MDHHS oversees and administers the state’s Medicaid and CHIP programs.
Michigan Medicaid self-service portal: You can access your account 24/7 through the MI Bridges online portal to confirm or update your contact information.
Michigan Medicaid unwinding FAQs: Read the answers to frequently asked questions about renewals resuming.
Michigan Medicaid notification timeline: Here’s when you can expect to receive Medicaid renewal information in the mail.
Michigan Medicaid phone assistance: You can call the Medicaid Beneficiary Help Line at 1-800-642-3195.
The bottom line
Automatic Medicaid renewals stopped on March 31, 2023, in advance of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) coming to an end on May 11.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) oversees the state’s Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance (CHIP) programs. These include Medicaid, the Healthy Michigan Plan, and MIChild. The MDHHS will spend a year reviewing eligibility for more than 3 million enrollees in Michigan. So it’s important to make sure the MDHHS has your current contact information and your household can be reached when it’s time to renew.
Your coverage may be automatically renewed without you having to take action. But if that’s not the case and you receive a renewal packet, make sure to complete and return it by the deadline.
If you lose your Medicaid coverage, you may still qualify for other health insurance options, such as an Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plan, Medicare, or job-based coverage.
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References
Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response. (2020). Determination that a public health emergency exists.
Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response. (2023). Renewal of determination that a public health emergency exists.
Benefits.gov. (n.d.). Michigan Medicaid health care program.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Unwinding and returning to regular operations after COVID-19.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2023). Temporary special enrollment period (SEP) for consumers losing Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage due to unwinding of the Medicaid continuous enrollment condition – Frequently asked questions (FAQ).
Mackay, H. (2023). Local health agencies warn about Medicaid renewal notices; thousands might lose coverage. The Detroit News.
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Eligibility notification timeline.
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Healthy Michigan Plan.
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Medicaid renewals.
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Tribal consultation.
National Indian Health Board. (2023). Medicaid unwinding webinar: Unwinding updates and best practices for tribal enrollment assisters.
Shamus, K. J. (2023). 3.17 million Michiganders must reapply for Medicaid. Why it matters now. Detroit Free Press.
Tolbert, J., et al. (2023). 10 things to know about the unwinding of the Medicaid continuous enrollment provision. Kaiser Family Foundation.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2022). VA & TRICARE information.
