LANSING, MI — People who get health coverage through Medicaid are being urged to check their account information now as major rule changes begin rolling out across the country. University of Michigan Health-Sparrow says the most important step is simple: make sure state agencies can reach you by mail, phone, text or email.
The guidance comes as states prepare for changes tied to both immigration-related eligibility rules and new federal requirements that will affect some adults in Medicaid expansion plans. Health counselors say the exact impact will depend on where a person lives and what kind of coverage they have.
For patients and families, the main risk is missing a notice or deadline. Officials warn that people who ignore messages from their state could lose coverage even if they still qualify, while false claims on social media may lead them to unnecessary paid services.
Health counselors say many Medicaid patients still have unanswered questions
At University of Michigan Health-Sparrow and other U-M Health sites, patient financial counselors are already fielding calls from Medicaid members who want to know what the changes mean for them. Alena Hill, who leads patient financial counseling teams, said her staff is still learning how states will put the new rules into practice.
Hill said the good news is that the team works alongside staff from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Medicaid office in all three of its offices, which helps them get current information. Her team supports patients across U-M Health locations in Ann Arbor, Lansing and the Grand Rapids area.
She said people with Medicaid questions do not have to wait until they are facing a problem. The counseling teams will talk through insurance issues and can also help people understand financial assistance for care insurance does not cover.
Updating state contact information is the first step for every enrollee
Hill’s strongest advice is to review contact information in a state Medicaid account right away. That includes mailing address, home address, phone number and email address, especially after a move or a change in phone service.
In Michigan, that system is MiBridges. Anyone with an account can log in from a phone, computer or tablet and check that the details are correct. People who do not have an account can create one now, according to the health system’s guidance.
Michigan residents who need help can call 1-800-642-3195 or email [email protected]. People in other states are being told to use their own state Medicaid agency’s contact information and not rely on third-party messages, ads or social media posts that may not be trustworthy.
Immigration-related Medicaid changes start October 1 in every state
Beginning Oct. 1, 2026, some immigrant groups will no longer qualify for full Medicaid or full CHIP coverage under new federal rules. The changes do not remove emergency Medicaid coverage, and they do not stop hospitals from treating life-threatening emergencies or labor and delivery situations right away.
Groups that may still qualify for full benefits include naturalized U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents who meet or are exempt from the five-year waiting period, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and migrants from the COFA states. Other groups, including refugees, asylees and some parolees and trafficking-related categories, may lose full coverage if they do not have lawful permanent resident status.
Health care providers are not required to report immigrants to immigration authorities. Michigan residents who are pregnant or under 21 may also have access to additional coverage options through state programs such as CHIPRA 214.
New six-month checks and work rules arrive in January 2027
The next wave of changes begins Jan. 1, 2027, and it affects adults ages 19 to 64 in Medicaid expansion plans and Section 1115 waiver programs. In Michigan, that includes people in the Healthy Michigan Plan. Those members will need to provide information twice a year to show they still qualify based on income.
That six-month redetermination schedule is more frequent than the yearly review many people are used to. In addition, some adults will have to show they are working, volunteering, attending school or job training for an average of 20 hours a week, unless they qualify for an exception.
Michigan says the first people affected will be those whose Medicaid anniversaries fall in March 2027. Some people may be able to use existing information from payroll, tax or benefit systems to prove they meet the rules, but many will still need to submit documents or statements on their own.
Some people will qualify for exceptions, but states will still need proof
The new rules include exceptions for people who are pregnant, recently gave birth, are in addiction treatment, care for a young child or a disabled person, live with a serious illness or disability, or qualify under other hardship categories. States will decide how to document those exceptions, and Michigan’s process is still being refined.
For some people, a sworn statement may be enough during the first year they need to meet the requirement if they are too ill or disabled to work. After that, additional proof will be needed. States can also count participation in other benefit programs, such as SNAP or TANF, as meeting the Medicaid requirement in some cases.
People who lose coverage can appeal or try to get back on the program. Hill said many people are worried unnecessarily, while others may be at real risk, which is why checking coverage type now matters.
U-M researchers say most expansion members already work or face health barriers
University of Michigan researchers say the policy debate should be grounded in evidence about how people actually use Medicaid. John Ayanian, a U-M primary care physician and professor of internal medicine, public health and public policy, said the program has played an important role in Michigan since the state expanded Medicaid in 2014 through the Healthy Michigan Plan.
He said research shows Medicaid matters not only for the people enrolled, but also for hospitals and clinics serving residents with all types of coverage. His team has also found that most people in Medicaid expansion plans already work or do activities that would satisfy the new standards.
More recent research from U-M and Mt. Sinai found that workers with unstable hours or incomes were more likely to rely on Medicaid than employer insurance. Ayanian said researchers will need to track the effects of the new rules on patients over time.
