Medicaid Renewal Guide: How to Renew Medicaid in Michigan
Medicaid requires participants to renew their coverage every year. If you are part of the Home Help Program in Michigan, staying enrolled in Medicaid is very important. The Home Help Program allows eligible individuals to hire and pay family members or friends as their caregivers. To continue receiving care through this program, the person receiving care must remain covered by Medicaid at all times.
If you miss renewal deadlines, it can cause gap in the coverage and affect your benefits. So, staying on top of your renewal is important. Here is everything you need to know about deadlines, recent changes, how to renew, and what to do if you miss a deadline.
When Is My Medicaid Renewal Deadline?
Individual deadlines vary throughout the year. You will receive a notice from Michigan's Department of Health & Human Services by mail or email when it is time to renew. If you receive a packet in your mail, the notice will include your deadline, a form, and the documents you need to complete the renewal. Please open and read through any mail or letter that you receive from Michigan state or MDHHS as soon as possible.
It is important to keep your mailing address and contact information up to date on Michigan MIBridges account. During the COVID-19 public health emergency, the state automatically extended coverage without checking eligibility. However, that ended in spring 2023 when federal law required states to return to yearly renewals.
In some cases, the state auto-renews and you will receive a notice in your mail that your coverage is renewed and no action is needed. If you haven’t received a renewal notice and think one is overdue, call the statewide Beneficiary Helpline at 800-642-3195.
Important: Renewals could look a little different due to the new work requirement rules in 2027. Nothing is changing today.
Everyone has a different deadline. The state has a redetermination process annually which means 12 months after you were enrolled in Medicaid, Michigan renews Medicaid based on the information they already have. If they are not able to determine, they will send you a renewal packet to the address on their system.
Documents You Might for Medicaid Renewal
You do not have to send every document you used during the application. The notice letter, account notification, or email you receive will tell you exactly what they need to redetermine your eligibility. If you know things have changed and a renewal is coming soon, you can be prepared with these documents:
1 - Proof of Income
A very common document that could be asked. If they have specific documents, they need for the proof it will be mentioned in the packet, but some acceptable forms are:
most recent pay stubs
a signed letter from your employer
Social Security statements
an unemployment insurance award letter
2 - Proof of Identity
If things have changed for you or your family since you applied or last renewed, these could be some documents you should have handy:
driver's license
birth certificates
marriage records
or other documents showing who lives in your household
3 - Proof of Residency
You have to confirm that you still live in Michigan. If address or county has changed these could be some documents to be prepared with:
utility bill
bank statement
government letter
lease agreement with your name and home address
documentation showing dependent children, marital status, or guardianship.
How to Renew Medicaid in Michigan?
There are different ways to renew your Medicaid insurance, and you can choose a method you prefer. For an easy renewal, make sure you have up to date information on your account. Read the notice sent carefully to know what documents you need. If there are any changes in your income, household like marriage or newborn, or address, you should update them as soon as they happen.
During the renewal, the state will evaluate your eligibility based on the available data and they could need more information to confirm that you are still eligible.
1 - Online
The fastest and convenient way is through the official online portal.
When the renewal is due, you will get access to an application.
Follow the instructions and ensure your information is up to date and correct.
Complete and submit your form online.
2 - By Mail
You fill and send the DCH-1010 form to the address on your packet. Include the copies of documentation if they are asked for. If you are not sure about the address, call the Beneficiary Helpline at 800-642-3195.
3 - By Phone
Call MDHHS at 833-599-6444 (TTY: 866-501-5656) and talk to a representative who can help you renew your Medicaid eligibility.
4 - In Person
You can visit your local Michigan Department Health and Human Services (MDHHS) office to submit your application and documents or to get help with completing your form.
Steps After You Submit
When the state receives your application and documents, the status is updated on you Michigan MIBridges account. The processing time can vary between 30-45 days, but it could vary based on your profile. If MDHHS requests additional information or documents, respond promptly to maintain uninterrupted coverage.
If it is approved, you will receive a notice with the details, and your existing Medicaid card and care plan should carry over.
If it is denied, you will receive notice with the details and reasons for the rejections. If you think it is wrong, you can appeal the decision.
What If I Miss the Deadline?
There could be different reasons you might have missed the deadline but do not worry. Make sure you have your documents and forms ready anyways. If your Medicaid is terminated, call Beneficiary Help Line: 800-642-3195 to understand what your options are.
If you’ll need to submit a completely new application, you can start it with MDHHS again.
BURD Is Here to Support
We can help you by providing relevant resources, contacts, or support for the renewal process. Our Relationship Managers can answer questions regarding the renewal process and if it affects anything about your home care program. We’re here to ensure you can keep paying your caregiver through Home Help program.
If you receive any Medicaid letter about your home care services being interrupted, notify us by calling 833-447-3326. If there are changes to your Medicaid benefits, we can guide you on its effects on your care plan and your next steps.
