LANSING, Mich. — With federal Medicaid work requirements set to start Jan. 1, Michigan has rolled out an online screener to help Healthy Michigan Plan members figure out where they stand.
The state health department, MDHHS, said the Michigan Work and Exemptions Screening Tool, called MI WEST, walks users through a set of questions to show whether they may qualify for an exemption, already meet the rules or need to do more. It is meant for information only and does not count as an application or renewal.
About 625,000 of Michigan’s roughly 2.5 million Medicaid recipients are on the Healthy Michigan Plan, the state’s expanded coverage for lower-income adults. Under the federal law known as H.R. 1, some of those members ages 19 to 64 will have to show work or other approved activity to keep coverage.
Members who are not exempt can comply by earning at least $580 in a month, or by logging at least 80 hours of work, volunteering, school or a job program in a month between renewals. Most will also move from yearly to six-month renewals. Exemptions cover people such as parents or caregivers of children 13 and younger, those who are pregnant or gave birth in the past year, people with certain disabilities or serious health conditions, people in substance use treatment, and those already meeting SNAP or cash assistance work rules.
New applicants must meet the requirements starting Jan. 1. Current members will be checked at renewals beginning March 1, and anyone renewing in January or February 2027 will not be reviewed until 2028. The department says it will use existing data to confirm exemptions and compliance where it can and will send notices if it needs more.
The tool was designed by Civilla, a nonprofit design firm, with input from Medicaid members and community groups, and was paid for by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund. Acting MDHHS Director Amy Epkey said the goal is to keep as many eligible residents covered as possible. The department urges members to keep their MI Bridges information current and answer state notices quickly.
Filed under: Plymouth MI Health News
