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New Healthy Michigan Plan Work Requirements

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Department of Health and Human Services

New Healthy Michigan Plan Work Requirements

Starting January 1, 2027, some adults applying for or already receiving Medicaid through the Healthy Michigan Plan (HMP) will need to work or complete other approved activities to keep their health coverage.

Many people that need to meet this new requirement may already be doing so through work, school or other approved activities and some others may qualify for an exemption.

Who do work requirements apply to?

Work requirements only apply to people ages 19 – 64 who are on the Healthy Michigan Plan (HMP).

How do I check if I’m on the Healthy Michigan Plan?

To see if you have HMP coverage you can:

  • Check your MI Bridges account.
  • Check your myHealthPortal or myHealthButton account.
  • Contact your health plan.
  • Call the beneficiary help line at: 1-800-642-3195.
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Some people are exempt (excused) from work requirements

Even if you're on HMP, you may be excused from meeting work requirements. This is called having an exemption.

You are exempt if you are:

  • Already subject to work requirements for food (SNAP) benefits.
  • Already meeting work requirements for cash (TANF) benefits.
  • Pregnant or gave birth within the past 12 months.
  • A parent or caregiver of a child age 13 or under.
  • A caregiver of a person(s) with a disability (someone who needs help with daily activities).
  • An American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN).
  • A person that was in foster care at age 18 and is currently younger than age 26.
  • A disabled veteran.
  • In a treatment program for a substance use disorder.
  • In jail or prison now or in the past three months.
  • A person with complex health needs, also referred to as medically frail.
  • Living with a substance use disorder.
  • Living with a physical, intellectual or developmental disability that makes it hard to do daily activities.
  • Living with a mental health disorder.
  • Living with a serious health condition that requires regular treatment.
  • Experiencing temporary hardship, which is a short-term situation that may make it hard to work or complete other qualifying work activities. In these cases, you may not need to meet work requirements for a limited period of time. Temporary hardships include:
  •    Receiving care in a facility such as a hospital, nursing facility, psychiatric hospital, facility for people with intellectual disabilities, etc.
  •    Traveling outside of your community of residence for medical care for yourself or a dependent because it is not available in your community.
  •    Living in federally declared disaster areas.
  •    Living in an area with a high unemployment rate.

MDHHS will use available data sources to check for exemptions, but you may also need to notify MDHHS about your exemptions. You can find more information about how to report exemptions below.

How do you meet work requirements if you don’t have an exemption?

You can meet work requirements in one of two ways:

Meet the minimum monthly income requirement

You meet work requirements if you earn at least $580* in at least one month during the review period.

This includes all forms of earned income including jobs and self-employment. Make sure you report your job and all income on your application.

 

 

*This is not an income limit for Medicaid eligibility. You can find more information about general Medicaid eligibility at Health Care Programs Eligibility.

Complete 80 hours of approved activities

You can also meet work requirements by completing at least 80 hours of approved activities in one month during the review period.

Approved activities include:

  • Paid or unpaid employment.
  • Internship or work program.
  • Volunteering or community service.
  • Attending a high school or GED program.
  • Attending a college or vocational program.

You can combine activities to reach 80 hours in a single month. You must report your activities and the number of hours completed to MDHHS.

What is the review period?

The review period is the time MDHHS uses to check whether you met the work requirements. It works differently depending on if you are applying or already enrolled in HMP.

When applying for Medicaid, you must meet work requirements during the month before your application or the month you apply.

  • If you met work requirements during the month before you applied, your coverage may start that same month.
  • If you meet work requirements during the month you apply, your coverage may start the next month.

Example: If you are applying for coverage in April and met work requirements in March, your coverage may start in April. If you apply for coverage in April and complete work requirements in April, your coverage may start in May.

Note that application processing can take up to 45 days and some applications are not approved. Your approval notice may come later than your possible coverage start date.

When renewing HMP coverage, you must meet work requirements during at least one month since your last renewal. If this is your first renewal, you must meet work requirements during at least one month since your coverage started. You can find more information about how to report below.

 

How do you report exemptions and approved activities?

If you're applying for Medicaid

Starting Jan 1, 2027, the application will include questions about approved activities or exemption status. You'll answer these directly on the application.

In some cases, MDHHS may need more information to verify that you met work requirements or qualify for an exemption. If so, you will get a letter via the communication preference you selected in MI Bridges. If you do not use MI Bridges or have not selected a preference, it will come in the mail to the address provided at application or renewal.

If you already have HMP coverage

Work requirements will apply to HMP enrollees with renewal dates on or after March 1, 2027.

MDHHS will check to see if you're meeting work requirements at each HMP renewal.

MDHHS will try to automatically renew your coverage using information already available to us about your approved activities, income, or exemption status.

If MDHHS can verify that you still meet all eligibility requirements, including work requirements, coverage will be renewed automatically.

If MDHHS does not have enough information to verify that you met work requirements or qualify for an exemption, we will contact you to request more information.

If you receive communications requesting more information, be sure to follow the instructions and respond promptly. Missing a deadline could put your coverage at risk.

How MDHHS will contact you

MDHHS will contact you using the communication preference selected in MI Bridges. If you have not selected a communication preference or do not use MI Bridges, you will receive communication by mail.

If your situation changes

If anything changes before your next renewal, including your contact information, your work status, household size (including pregnancy), etc., you should report it to MDHHS online through your MI Bridges account or by contacting your local MDHHS office.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

For people already on Medicaid through the Healthy Michigan Plan

  • No. You’ll only need to show that you’ve met work requirements or an exemption in at least one of the months between each renewal.

  • If you have Medicaid coverage through the Healthy Michigan Plan, MDHHS will begin sending information about work requirements through the mail and/or the MI Bridges portal.

    If you have questions, call the beneficiary helpline at 1-800-642-3195 or contact your local MDHHS office.

  • If you don’t think you will be exempt and are not currently meeting the work requirements, consider ways you might be able to meet the requirements before your next renewal. If you are already meeting the work requirement or qualify for an exemption, you do not need to do anything new at this time. 
  • You don’t need to take any action before your next renewal unless your situation changes. Make sure to keep your information up to date in your MI Bridges account or contact your local office. However, if you receive paperwork from the Department, complete it and return it by the listed deadline.
  • No. You will not need to report work for both programs. People who are subject to work requirements for SNAP or are already meeting work requirements for TANF are exempt from Medicaid work requirements. MDHHS will check this automatically.

  • To prepare, keep your information up to date in MI Bridges. Use the "Report My Changes" function to update things like your contact information, work or qualifying activities, or household size. You can also contact your local MDHHS office to report changes.

    Watch for notices from MDHHS and respond to any requests for information as soon as possible. Responding on time helps protect your coverage.

  • The federal government's Centers for Medicare & Medicaid or CMS will send someHMP enrollees text messages and emails about the upcoming work requirements.

    You may receive up to four emails and three text messages between Wednesday, July 1, and Monday, August 31, with reminders and information about the upcoming changes.

    Official CMS messages will only come from:

    • Email: no-reply@info.medicaid.gov
    • Text message number: 633767
    • Sender name: MEDSMS

  • You will not lose coverage without warning. If work requirements apply to you and MDHHS does not already have the information needed to verify that you’ve met the requirements or are exempt, we will send you a notice explaining what information is needed and how to respond.

    If you do not meet work requirements, qualify for an exemption, or respond to notices from MDHHS, you will no longer qualify for Healthy Michigan Plan (HMP) coverage. If your coverage ends or is reduced, you can get it back again by meeting work requirements or qualifying for an exemption in a future period.

For new Medicaid applicants

  • They might. Not everyone who applies for Medicaid will need to meet work requirements. If you apply on or after Jan 1, 2027, the application for Medicaid will include questions to check if work requirements apply to you and if you’re already meeting them.

    After you apply, MDHHS may send a letter requesting more information. It is important to respond by the due date on the letter. 

  • One. You’ll need to report work or an exemption for the month before you apply or the current month in which you are applying.

    If you met work requirements during the month before you applied, your coverage may start that same month. If you meet work requirements during the month you apply, your coverage may start the next month.

  • You may qualify for an exemption. Review the exemptions list above. Many common situations are covered. If you're unsure, apply anyway and MDHHS will help determine what applies to you.

  • Seasonal workers who did not work 80 hours or make at least $580 during the month before or of their application can use income from the previous six months to meet work requirements.

Submitting proof or verifications

  • Apply anyway. MDHHS will try to verify your situation using existing records before asking for additional information.

  • No, you will not need to show proof every month. After you are approved, MDHHS will check your work requirements during the renewal process.

    At your renewal, MDHHS will try to automatically verify that you are meeting work requirements or qualify for an exemption using information we already have. If we need more information, we will contact you with instructions.

Missed deadlines or losing benefits

  • If you miss a deadline, you may lose coverage. It is important to watch for notices from MDHHS and respond as soon as possible. 

  • If your coverage changes or ends, you will receive a notice from MDHHS explaining what happened.

    If you no longer qualify for any Medicaid coverage, you will need to reapply and show that you now meet all eligibility requirements.

  • You have the right to appeal. If you receive a notice you disagree with, it will include instructions on how to request a hearing.

Updated: June 23, 2026