To apply for Medicaid in Michigan, submit an application to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) online through MI Bridges, by mail, in person at a local office, or by phone. Standard applications are processed within 45 days, faster for pregnant applicants and longer for those requiring a disability determination. Michigan runs two main programs: Traditional Medicaid and the Healthy Michigan Plan, the expansion program that covers most adults ages 19 to 64. Which one fits you depends on your household, income, and whether you need long-term care.
Who Qualifies
Three baseline requirements apply to everyone. You have to live in Michigan, have a Social Security number (or be in the process of getting one), and be a U.S. citizen or a qualified immigrant with an eligible status.1Michigan Legal Help. An Overview of Medicaid After that, eligibility turns on income measured against the Federal Poverty Level. The 2026 FPL for a single person is $15,960 per year.2ASPE. 2026 Poverty Guidelines – 48 Contiguous States
Income limits differ by group:
- Adults ages 19 to 64 qualify for the Healthy Michigan Plan with household income at or below 138% of FPL, roughly $22,025 per year for a single person.
- Pregnant women qualify with household income up to 200% of FPL, about $31,920 for a single person. The unborn child counts as a household member, which raises the effective cutoff.
- Children are covered through Medicaid and the separate MIChild program at income levels up to roughly 212% of FPL, depending on age.
- Aged, blind, or disabled applicants generally face lower limits, often around 100% of FPL for non-institutional programs.
Michigan uses Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) to calculate eligibility for most groups, including Healthy Michigan Plan enrollees, children, and pregnant women. MAGI starts from your tax-return income with a few adjustments. Aged, blind, or disabled applicants are evaluated under a different method that allows certain deductions.
When Assets Matter
The Healthy Michigan Plan has no asset limit. Traditional Medicaid also skips asset testing for children, pregnant women, and most families with minor children.1Michigan Legal Help. An Overview of Medicaid Assets matter most for people 65 and older, blind or disabled individuals, and anyone applying for nursing home or long-term care coverage. For nursing home Medicaid in 2026, a single applicant can keep up to $9,950 in countable assets. The primary home (up to a set equity value), one vehicle, personal belongings, and a small amount of life insurance don’t count. A healthy spouse can protect a larger share of the couple’s assets under spousal impoverishment rules.
If you’re applying for long-term care Medicaid, be aware that the state reviews the past 60 months of financial transactions. Gifts or below-market transfers during that window can trigger a penalty period. This is where long-term care planning goes wrong most often, and it deserves professional advice well before you need to apply.
Documents to Gather Before You Start
Having your paperwork ready is the single biggest thing you can do to keep the process moving. Pull together:
- Identity: driver’s license, state ID, birth certificate, passport, or immigration documents.
- Social Security numbers for every household member on the application.
- Proof of Michigan residency: a recent utility bill, lease, or ID showing your current address.
- Income verification: pay stubs from the last 30 days, recent bank statements, your most recent tax return, Social Security award letters, or unemployment benefit statements.3Henry Ford Health. Applying for Medicaid in Michigan – Section: What to bring to your DHS appointment
- Other health insurance information for anyone on the application who has employer coverage, marketplace insurance, or another plan.
- Asset documentation (Traditional Medicaid only): bank statements, vehicle registrations, property deeds, retirement account statements, life insurance policies with cash value, and any stocks or bonds.
If the income you report doesn’t match what federal databases show, the state will ask for paper documentation when the discrepancy exceeds 10%.4Medicaid.gov. MAGI-Based Eligibility Verification Plan – Michigan Having proof in hand avoids that follow-up entirely.
Four Ways to Submit Your Application
Online through MI Bridges. This is the fastest route. Create an account at newmibridges.michigan.gov, which lets you track status and upload documents directly.5MI Bridges. Apply for Benefits You can also apply as a guest without an account, but you lose the ability to check status online. Select “Healthcare Coverage” when the portal asks which benefits you want.
By mail. Download a paper application from the MDHHS website or pick one up at any local office, then mail the completed form to your county office.
In person. Take your application to your local MDHHS office. Staff can answer questions and help you fill out the forms, which is useful if your situation is complicated or you’re not comfortable applying online.
By phone. The state’s general Medicaid customer helpline is 1-800-642-3195.6State of Michigan. Hotlines
What Happens After You Apply
MDHHS sends a confirmation notice with a case number you can use to follow the application. Processing deadlines depend on category:7State of Michigan. How Long Does It Take to Process an Application
- Standard Medicaid: 45 days
- Medicaid requiring a disability determination: 90 days
- Pregnant women: 15 days
These timelines assume MDHHS has everything it needs. If the agency asks for more documents, respond quickly. Missing a verification request is one of the most common reasons applications stall or get denied, even when the applicant would otherwise qualify.
You’ll receive the decision by mail, and it usually shows up in MI Bridges too if you have an account. Approved applicants get an eligibility notice and a MiHealth card, which functions like an insurance card at participating providers. You’ll then choose a Medicaid health plan through Michigan’s managed care enrollment process. If you don’t pick one, the state assigns you a plan.
Keeping Coverage After Approval
Michigan redetermines eligibility once a year for most enrollees. MDHHS first tries to confirm eligibility using electronic data like tax records. If it can, coverage renews automatically and you get a notice. If it can’t, you’ll receive a renewal packet asking you to verify income and other information. Missing a renewal is one of the easiest ways to lose coverage while still eligible.
Starting January 1, 2027, adults enrolled through the Healthy Michigan Plan will face redeterminations every six months rather than annually, under new federal legislation.8Medicaid.gov. Implementation of Eligibility Redeterminations, Section 71107 of the Working Families Tax Cut Legislation (SMD 26-001) If you’re on that program, expect notices twice a year instead of once and respond to each one promptly.
If Your Application Is Denied
The denial notice must explain the specific reason. Read it closely. Many denials come from missing paperwork or data errors rather than actual ineligibility, and those are fixable.
You have appeal rights in two stages. First, file a local appeal within 60 calendar days of the written denial. You can request it orally or in writing, and the agency has 30 days to decide. You can present evidence and explain why the denial was wrong.
If the local appeal doesn’t go your way, request a State Fair Hearing within 120 calendar days of that decision. The hearing is more formal: an administrative law judge reviews the evidence, both sides make their case, and witnesses can testify. Gather any documents supporting your eligibility before the hearing date. If the local appeal office doesn’t respond within 30 days, you can skip ahead and request the State Fair Hearing directly.