More than a year after the state eliminated the five-year waiting period required for certain immigrants to become eligible for Medicaid, the state is now opening health insurance to immigrants under 21 who are pregnant.
The Michigan State Legislature has allocated $6.4 million in the 2023-2024 general fund to eliminate the five-year waiting period for eligibility for legal residents, joining dozens of other states across the country that offer these benefits.
Since 2009, the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act has given states the option to waive the five-year waiting period.
“There may be people who previously thought they were not eligible for benefits. Now may be a good time to inquire about whether they can enroll. If they are in the country legally, their local offices should be able to help them enroll,” said Elinor Jordan, senior staff attorney at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center.
According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, coverage extends to children and pregnant women who are lawful residents of the United States, including green card holders, immigrant victims of physical injury or extreme cruelty and their family members, and those with temporary protected status.
Public policy experts estimate the expansion could benefit nearly 10,000 people nationwide.
“This policy change would bring Michigan closer to covering all children – and would provide affordable, high-quality care to thousands more children in our state – while bringing our state’s laws in line with those of most other states,” said Simon Marshall-Shah, policy analyst at the Michigan League for Public Policy, in a 2021 analysis of the policy.
The change also includes postnatal care for up to one year for eligible recipients. Before the expansion, pregnant legal residents were eligible for Medicaid coverage for emergency services, including some prenatal and postnatal care.
Jordan says the move will make insurance coverage much more comprehensive while preventing some people from incurring medical debt.
“We often work with clients who are living legally in their country and contributing a lot, but have this crushing medical debt,” she said. “It can really affect their productivity and their ability to fully engage in their communities.”
Eligible Medicaid recipients can apply for the program directly on their state’s Department of Health website.
Trustworthy, accurate, up-to-date.
WDET is committed to making our journalism accessible to all. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through the independent support of readers like you. If you value WDET as your source for news, music and talk, please make a donation today.
Donate today »
