Healthy Michigan Plan Work Requirements: What Rural Organizations Should Know

The MDHHS Community Partner Toolkit contains materials to help healthcare organizations and community partners educate and assist Healthy Michigan Plan members as the work requirements are implemented.

The toolkit includes:

• Educational resources
• Outreach materials
• Promotional tools
• Information organizations can share with Healthy Michigan Plan members

Many of these materials direct members to the Healthy Michigan Plan website, where they can find the most current information. MDHHS will continue adding resources to support implementation.

Access the Toolkit

The HR1 & Medicaid Webinar Series helps healthcare organizations and community partners understand and communicate changes to Medicaid resulting from HR1. The series primarily focuses on Healthy Michigan Plan work requirements and how organizations can help Michigan residents prepare for these changes.

Planning for Work Requirements Webinar

Learn about the basics of the provisions and changes from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, how MDHHS is planning and preparing, and available communication tools and resources.

From Policy to Practice Webinar

Learn how MDHHS will turn policy into practice, including who is impacted by work requirements, available exemptions and exclusions, way participants can meet the requirements, verification processes, and other key implementation details.

Visit the MDHHS Community Partner Toolkit webpage to find the latest webinar recordings and resources and sign up for the HMP Work Requirements Listserv. 

Healthcare organizations and community partners can encourage Healthy Michigan Plan members to:

1. Confirm whether their Medicaid coverage is through the Healthy Michigan Plan.
2. Keep their contact information current in MI Bridges.
3. Report changes that may affect their coverage.
4. Read and respond to MDHHS notices by the listed deadlines.
5. Provide requested supporting documents.
6. Continue checking the Healthy Michigan Plan website for updates.

Healthy Michigan Plan Members can confirm their coverage by:

• Checking MI Bridges
• Checking myHealthPortal or myHealthButton
• Contacting their health plan
• Calling the Beneficiary Help Line at 1-800-642-3195

Log in to MI Bridges
Visit the Healthy Michigan Plan website

Some Healthy Michigan Plan members may be excused from meeting the work requirements. This is called an exemption.

Exemptions may apply to people who are:

• Pregnant or gave birth within the past 12 months.
• A parent or caregiver of a child age 13 or under.
• Already subject to work requirements for food (SNAP) or cash (TANF) benefits.
• A caregiver of a person(s) with a disability.
• Living with a physical, intellectual or developmental disability that makes it hard to do daily activities.
• A disabled veteran.
• A person with complex health needs.
• An American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN).
• In a treatment program for a substance use disorder.
• In jail or prison now or in the past three months.
• Living with a substance use disorder.
• Living with a mental health disorder.
• A person that was in foster care at age 18 and is currently younger than age 26.
• Living with a serious health condition that requires regular treatment.
   

Exemptions may also apply to individuals 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, people 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.

Review complete MDHHS exemption guidance
 

The Center for Health & Research Transformation (CHRT)’s August 2026 brief, HR1 and Michigan Medicaid: Work Requirements, provides an overview of the changes. 

The Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA) launched a statewide Medicaid Community Support Network and is sharing updates, resources, training opportunities, and information to ensure that nonprofit organizations have the tools they need to support their communities through this transition. Visit MNA’s https://readyformedicaidchanges.org/ site for more information and visit the resources page to browse available resources. 

These include a guide to Changes to Medicaid for Some Non-Citizens starting October 1, 2026, available in English, Spanish, and Arabic.