Once a senior qualifies for Michigan Medicaid, the program covers far more than doctor visits, from expanded adult dental to transportation, hospice, and long-term care. MDHHS also names hospital and physician care, prescriptions, vision, hearing and speech services, therapy, medical supplies, and personal care among the medically necessary services it covers.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov - Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits (federal state-plan benefit taxonomy). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/mandatory-optional-medicaid-benefits
This guide lists the services Michigan Medicaid covers for adults 65 and older in 2026, names the three main channels that deliver them, and flags the carve-outs (behavioral health and MI Choice waiver services) where a different agency handles part of your care.
How Michigan Medicaid Delivers Covered Services
Michigan Medicaid coverage for seniors runs through three main delivery channels:Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov - Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits (federal state-plan benefit taxonomy). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/mandatory-optional-medicaid-benefits
- Medicaid Health Plans (MHPs): the managed care plans that hold most members' coverage. Michigan's Comprehensive Health Care Program lists nine MHPs across its county-by-county listing, and no plan covers the whole state; UPHP serves the Upper Peninsula and is one of the nine.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (1915). Michigan Comprehensive Health Care Program 1915(b) (MI-0011). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/82116 MDHHS says most people who get Medicaid must join a health plan, and MICHIGAN ENROLLS at 1-800-975-7630 can tell you which doctors, pharmacies and hospitals are part of each plan and enroll you by phone.State of Michigan. (n.d.). MDHHS — Hotlines (statewide MDHHS phone directory). michigan.gov. Retrieved Aug 1, 2026, from https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/inside-mdhhs/hotlines If you are 21 or older and in an MHP, your dental care also comes through the plan's own dental network.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov - Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits (federal state-plan benefit taxonomy). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/mandatory-optional-medicaid-benefits
- Prepaid Inpatient Health Plans (PIHPs): the regional plans that handle specialty behavioral health and substance use disorder services under MDHHS contracts, managing that provider network separately from the MHPs.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov - Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits (federal state-plan benefit taxonomy). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/mandatory-optional-medicaid-benefits
- The MI Choice waiver agency: MI Choice waiver services come on top of regular State Plan coverage and are arranged through the participant's waiver agency.U.S. Government Publishing Office. (n.d.). 42 CFR 441.310 — Limits on Federal financial participation (FFP) (eCFR, current). ecfr.gov. Retrieved Sep 3, 2026, from https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/section-441.310
The table below shows where to start for each service. Service-by-service detail follows.
| Service | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Primary care, specialist visits | Your MHP's member services line |
| Hospital inpatient and outpatient | Your MHP's member services line |
| Prescriptions | Your MHP's member services line |
| Dental (age 21+) | Your MHP's dental provider network |
| Vision, hearing and speech services | Your MHP's member services line |
| Physical, occupational, speech therapy | Your MHP's member services line |
| Non-emergency medical transportation | Your MHP's member services line |
| Specialty behavioral health, substance use disorder | Your regional PIHP, through your local CMHSP |
| Nursing facility care | Covered by Medicaid; ask MDHHS which channel pays |
| MI Choice Waiver services | Your MI Choice waiver agency |
| Home Help personal care | MDHHS Adult Services |
Federally Mandated Covered Services
The federal Medicaid statute requires every state's program to cover a baseline set of services, and Michigan covers all of them. Medicaid.gov's mandatory list runs to eighteen items, several of them aimed at children and pregnancy; the ones an older adult is most likely to use are:Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov - Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits (federal state-plan benefit taxonomy). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/mandatory-optional-medicaid-benefits
- Inpatient and outpatient hospital
- Physician services
- Laboratory and X-ray
- Nursing facility care
- Home health
- Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and Rural Health Clinic services
- Family planning services and supplies
- Transportation to medical care
Michigan Medicaid's Optional Covered Services
On top of the federal floor, Michigan covers an extensive set of optional state-plan services. MDHHS attaches one caution to its own list that matters at 65: some of these services are limited and may not be covered for beneficiaries age 21 and older, and some require prior approval.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov - Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits (federal state-plan benefit taxonomy). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/mandatory-optional-medicaid-benefits So treat the list below as the categories Michigan covers, and confirm the specific service, device, or quantity with your plan before you count on it.
Prescription Drugs
Medicine prescribed by a doctor is on MDHHS's covered list, and it is one of Michigan's optional elections rather than a federal requirement. Some covered services need prior approval, so ask your plan before you fill an unfamiliar prescription.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov - Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits (federal state-plan benefit taxonomy). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/mandatory-optional-medicaid-benefits If you have both Medicare and Medicaid, your prescriptions work differently: federal law excludes Medicare Part D drugs from Medicaid coverage, so those come through your Part D plan.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2023). CMS State Medicaid Director Letter SMD# 23-006 — Assurance of Transportation: A Medicaid Transportation Coverage Guide (Medicaid.gov, 2023). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 2, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/smd23006.pdf
Adult Dental (Expanded April 2023)
Michigan substantially expanded the adult Medicaid dental benefit effective April 1, 2023, adding deep teeth cleanings, sealants, root canals, crowns, and gum care for beneficiaries 21 and older. Under a separate rate policy implemented January 1, 2023, dental providers are now paid at 100% of the Average Commercial Rate.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov - Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits (federal state-plan benefit taxonomy). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/mandatory-optional-medicaid-benefits Some services require prior approval, so ask your plan before treatment starts.
MDHHS says beneficiaries did not lose any dental benefits with these changes, but the route changed: if you are 21 or older and enrolled in a Medicaid Health Plan, an Integrated Care Organization, or PACE, you get dental care through that plan's own dental provider network.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov - Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits (federal state-plan benefit taxonomy). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/mandatory-optional-medicaid-benefits So the practical question is access to a dentist in your plan's network. To find one:
- Call your MHP's member services line and ask for the dental network directory.
- Ask a nearby FQHC whether it runs a dental program that takes your plan.
- Ask a dental school clinic near you whether it accepts your plan.
Vision
MDHHS lists vision services among the medically necessary services Michigan Medicaid covers.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov - Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits (federal state-plan benefit taxonomy). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/mandatory-optional-medicaid-benefits Eyeglasses are an optional Medicaid benefit that each state decides whether to cover for adults, so ask your MHP what its vision benefit includes for a member over 21, how often lenses and frames can be replaced, and whether contact lenses or cataract surgery need prior approval.U.S. Government Publishing Office. (2024). 42 U.S.C. 1396d — medical assistance categories and EPSDT (govinfo.gov, United States Code 2024 Edition, HTML). govinfo.gov. Retrieved Oct 2, 2026, from https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/42/1396d?link-type=html
Hearing and Speech
MDHHS lists hearing and speech services among the services Michigan Medicaid covers.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov - Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits (federal state-plan benefit taxonomy). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/mandatory-optional-medicaid-benefits Hearing aids for adults 21 and older are a separate question: federal law makes them optional rather than mandatory, so each state decides whether to cover them and whether to cap or limit them.U.S. Government Publishing Office. (2024). 42 U.S.C. 1396d — medical assistance categories and EPSDT hearing services (govinfo.gov, USCODE 2024 ed., current). govinfo.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2024-title42/pdf/USCODE-2024-title42-chap7-subchapXIX-sec1396d.pdf Call your MHP's member services line and ask specifically whether it covers hearing aids, fittings, and repairs, what prior approval it requires, and how often a device can be replaced.
Therapy Services
Physical and occupational therapy are on MDHHS's covered-services list, as are speech services. Coverage is for medically necessary services, and some may require prior approval.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov - Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits (federal state-plan benefit taxonomy). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/mandatory-optional-medicaid-benefits Ask your plan what it needs before therapy starts and whether it reassesses on a schedule.
Medical Supplies and Equipment
MDHHS lists medical supplies among the services Michigan Medicaid covers.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov - Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits (federal state-plan benefit taxonomy). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/mandatory-optional-medicaid-benefits Whether a particular item (a wheelchair, a walker, a hospital bed, oxygen, CPAP, or diabetic supplies) is covered, and what prior approval it needs, is a plan-level question: ask your MHP before you order or rent anything. MI Choice participants have a separate route, since the waiver covers specialized medical equipment and supplies for people enrolled in it.U.S. Government Publishing Office. (n.d.). 42 CFR 441.310 — Limits on Federal financial participation (FFP) (eCFR, current). ecfr.gov. Retrieved Sep 3, 2026, from https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/section-441.310
Hospice
Hospice care is on MDHHS's list of medically necessary services Michigan Medicaid covers.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov - Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits (federal state-plan benefit taxonomy). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/mandatory-optional-medicaid-benefits That is not automatic nationally: the Medicaid hospice benefit is an optional state-plan service each state chooses whether to offer, and Michigan offers it.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Hospice Benefits — Medicaid.gov. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 13, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/hospice-benefits Ask the hospice agency what its Medicaid contract covers and what it bills to Medicare if you are also enrolled there.
Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT)
Transportation to medical care is not one of Michigan's optional elections at all: it is among the benefits federal law requires every state Medicaid program to cover, and MDHHS lists non-emergency medical transportation among its covered services.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov - Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits (federal state-plan benefit taxonomy). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/mandatory-optional-medicaid-benefits If you are in an MHP, start with your plan. To use it:
Schedule the medical appointment
Book the covered visit first, so you have a firm date, time, and provider address to give the plan.
Call your MHP's member services line ahead of time
and ask how to book a ride. Call as early as you can once the appointment is set, and ask how much notice the plan needs.
Give the trip details
Provide the pick-up address, the appointment time, and the destination.
Confirm the ride
If you use a wheelchair or need help getting in and out of a vehicle, say so and ask what kind of vehicle the plan will send.
Podiatry, Chiropractic, and Other Specialty Services
Podiatry (foot care) and chiropractic services are both on MDHHS's covered-services list, as are private duty nursing and personal care services.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov - Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits (federal state-plan benefit taxonomy). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/mandatory-optional-medicaid-benefits Some are limited for beneficiaries over 21 and some need prior approval, so confirm before you schedule.
Personal Care (Home Help)
MDHHS lists Home Help (Independent Living Services) among its Medicaid program benefits for people who need help with daily activities and meet eligibility requirements.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov - Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits (federal state-plan benefit taxonomy). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/mandatory-optional-medicaid-benefits MDHHS administers the program and provides personal care to people who need hands-on help with activities of daily living, plus help with instrumental activities of daily living. An MDHHS Adult Services worker assesses need in person, at the client's home, and Medicaid will not authorize Home Help payments while the client's Medicaid eligibility is inactive.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Michigan State Plan Amendment MI-25-0022 — CMS approval letter and approved pages. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/spa/downloads/MI-25-0022.pdf See the full Home Help guide for eligibility, covered services, and pay rates.
Behavioral Health: The PIHP Carve-Out
In Michigan, specialty behavioral health and substance use disorder services are managed under MDHHS contracts with regional Prepaid Inpatient Health Plans (PIHPs), not the Medicaid Health Plans, and the PIHPs manage the network of behavioral health providers, including Community Mental Health Service Providers (CMHSPs).Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov - Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits (federal state-plan benefit taxonomy). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/mandatory-optional-medicaid-benefits
MDHHS's covered-services list names both mental health services and substance use disorder treatment services.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov - Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits (federal state-plan benefit taxonomy). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/mandatory-optional-medicaid-benefits MDHHS does not spell out on that list which specific treatments or settings each covers, so ask your local CMHSP what its network offers and how to get an assessment.
In practice, if you are on Medicaid and need specialty mental health or substance use treatment, you get it through the PIHP's provider network, such as your local CMHSP, rather than your MHP's usual network.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov - Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits (federal state-plan benefit taxonomy). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/mandatory-optional-medicaid-benefits If someone may harm themselves, call or text the 24-hour 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.eldercare.acl.gov https://eldercare.acl.gov/home · Accessed Sep 4, 2026
What Michigan Medicaid Does Not Cover
One exclusion is firm, documented, and worth planning around: MI Choice does not pay for room and board. Community living supports exclude the costs associated with room and board, and respite excludes room and board except when it is furnished in a facility approved by MDHHS that is not a private residence.U.S. Government Publishing Office. (n.d.). 42 CFR 441.310 — Limits on Federal financial participation (FFP) (eCFR, current). ecfr.gov. Retrieved Sep 3, 2026, from https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/section-441.310 So a member living in a residential setting other than their own home pays for the room from their own income, even while MI Choice covers the care services delivered there.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov - Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits (federal state-plan benefit taxonomy). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/mandatory-optional-medicaid-benefits
Past that, most "is it covered?" answers in Michigan are plan-level and service-specific rather than blanket exclusions. MDHHS's own covered-services list carries the caution that some services are limited and may not be covered for beneficiaries age 21 and older, and that some require prior approval.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov - Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits (federal state-plan benefit taxonomy). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/mandatory-optional-medicaid-benefits Before you accept that something is not covered, ask your MHP three questions:
- Is this service covered for a member my age, and is there a quantity or frequency limit?
- Does it require prior approval, and does the provider submit that request or do I?
- If the plan denies it, how do I appeal? A denial is not the end of the road; see the Michigan Medicaid appeals guide.
Value-Added Benefits From Medicaid Health Plans
Treat any extras on top of the standard Medicaid package as a plan-by-plan question, not something the state guarantees. When you call a plan's member services line, ask whether it has a current value-added benefits sheet, and ask whether it offers anything like an over-the-counter allowance, extra dental coverage, rides for non-medical trips, a gym membership, or a healthy-food card. Get any amounts in writing before you choose.
Wondering whether Michigan Medicaid covers a specific service? Chat with Brevy and we will tell you, plus how to access it.
How Michigan Medicaid Works With Medicare
If you hold both Medicare and Medicaid, the two programs coordinate:
- Medicare pays first for services both programs cover, and Part D drugs are excluded from Medicaid altogether, so your prescriptions come through Part D.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2023). CMS State Medicaid Director Letter SMD# 23-006 — Assurance of Transportation: A Medicaid Transportation Coverage Guide (Medicaid.gov, 2023). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 2, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/smd23006.pdf
- Medicaid wraps around it, covering services such as dental and transportation.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2023). CMS State Medicaid Director Letter SMD# 23-006 — Assurance of Transportation: A Medicaid Transportation Coverage Guide (Medicaid.gov, 2023). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 2, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/smd23006.pdf If you also qualify for a Medicare Savings Program, Medicaid helps with Medicare premiums and cost-sharing; that guide carries Michigan's 2026 income and asset limits.
- MI Coordinated Health (MICH) is Michigan's integrated option for people enrolled in both programs, combining Medicare and Medicaid in a single plan. It is the successor to MI Health Link, the state's earlier capitated Medicare-Medicaid demonstration, which ended December 31, 2025; MICH took over on January 1, 2026 as a Highly Integrated Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (HIDE SNP) program, and MI Health Link enrollees had the option of moving into it with no break in coverage.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). MI Coordinated Health HCBS Waiver (1126.R02.00) — State Waivers List (Medicaid.gov, CMS). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/82131
- MICH is not statewide yet, and the Upper Peninsula is not fully in. For 2026 it runs in Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, Macomb, St. Joseph, Van Buren, and Wayne counties, plus every Upper Peninsula county except Chippewa, Gogebic, and Menominee.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). CMS — D-SNPs: Integration & Unified Appeals & Grievance Requirements. cms.gov. Retrieved Nov 11, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/medicare/medicaid-coordination/about/dsnps Statewide expansion is planned for 2027.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). MI Coordinated Health HCBS Waiver (1126.R02.00) — State Waivers List (Medicaid.gov, CMS). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/82131
See the Michigan Medicaid programs hub for the full picture.
Common Misconceptions About Michigan Medicaid Coverage
"Medicaid doesn't cover adult dental." Michigan does, and substantially expanded the benefit on April 1, 2023.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov - Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits (federal state-plan benefit taxonomy). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/mandatory-optional-medicaid-benefits The practical question is finding a dentist in your plan's network, not whether the benefit exists.
"Medicaid only pays for doctor visits and prescriptions." MDHHS's own list is much longer: dental, vision, hearing and speech, therapy, medical supplies, transportation, nursing home care, hospice, private duty nursing, and personal care services.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov - Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits (federal state-plan benefit taxonomy). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/mandatory-optional-medicaid-benefits
"My MHP doesn't cover my mental health." For specialty mental health care, that is by design. Specialty behavioral health is managed by the regional PIHP and its network of providers, including Community Mental Health Service Providers.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov - Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits (federal state-plan benefit taxonomy). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/mandatory-optional-medicaid-benefits Call your local CMHSP, or 988 if someone may harm themselves.eldercare.acl.gov https://eldercare.acl.gov/home · Accessed Sep 4, 2026
"If Medicaid covers it, I pay nothing." Not quite. If you are also on Medicare, what Medicaid picks up of your Medicare premiums and cost-sharing depends on which Medicare Savings Program you qualify for.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2023). CMS State Medicaid Director Letter SMD# 23-006 — Assurance of Transportation: A Medicaid Transportation Coverage Guide (Medicaid.gov, 2023). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 2, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/smd23006.pdf MDHHS also notes that people 21 and older may owe a small co-pay on some covered services.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov - Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits (federal state-plan benefit taxonomy). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/mandatory-optional-medicaid-benefits In a nursing home, the resident's income, after the allowances MDHHS deducts, goes to the facility as a patient-pay amount, and Medicaid covers the rest.U.S. Government Publishing Office. (n.d.). 42 CFR 433.36(h)(2) — Liens and recoveries: when an agency may make an adjustment or recovery (eCFR). ecfr.gov. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-C/part-433/subpart-A/section-433.36
"I have to use Medicaid transportation." You do not have to, but non-emergency medical transportation is on MDHHS's covered-services list, so ask your plan before you pay for a ride to a medical appointment yourself.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov - Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits (federal state-plan benefit taxonomy). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/mandatory-optional-medicaid-benefits
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Michigan Medicaid cover adult dental?
Yes. Michigan expanded the adult Medicaid dental benefit effective April 1, 2023, adding deep teeth cleanings, sealants, root canals, crowns, and gum care for beneficiaries 21 and older, and a separate rate policy from January 1, 2023 pays dental providers at 100% of the Average Commercial Rate.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov - Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits (federal state-plan benefit taxonomy). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/mandatory-optional-medicaid-benefits Some services need prior approval. The practical question is access to a dentist in your plan's network: call your MHP's member services line for its dental directory, or ask nearby FQHCs and dental school clinics whether they take your plan.
How do I get a ride to a medical appointment through Michigan Medicaid?
Non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) is on MDHHS's list of covered services.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov - Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits (federal state-plan benefit taxonomy). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/mandatory-optional-medicaid-benefits Call your MHP's member services line well ahead of the appointment, ask how to book a ride, give the pick-up address, appointment time, and destination, and tell the plan if you need a wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
Does Michigan Medicaid cover hearing aids for adults?
MDHHS lists hearing and speech services among the services Michigan Medicaid covers, and adds that some services are limited and may not be covered for beneficiaries 21 and older.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov - Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits (federal state-plan benefit taxonomy). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/mandatory-optional-medicaid-benefits Hearing aids specifically are an optional Medicaid benefit for adults, which each state decides whether to cover and whether to limit,U.S. Government Publishing Office. (2024). 42 U.S.C. 1396d — medical assistance categories and EPSDT hearing services (govinfo.gov, USCODE 2024 ed., current). govinfo.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2024-title42/pdf/USCODE-2024-title42-chap7-subchapXIX-sec1396d.pdf so ask your Medicaid Health Plan directly whether a device, fitting, or repair is covered for you and what prior approval it needs.
Why won't my Medicaid Health Plan cover my specialty mental health care?
In Michigan, specialty behavioral health and substance use disorder services are managed under MDHHS contracts with regional Prepaid Inpatient Health Plans (PIHPs), not the MHPs, and the PIHPs manage the provider network, including Community Mental Health Service Providers (CMHSPs).Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov - Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits (federal state-plan benefit taxonomy). medicaid.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/mandatory-optional-medicaid-benefits Your MHP or your local CMHSP can point you to where to start.
Does Michigan Medicaid pay for room and board in assisted living?
No. MI Choice covers care services such as community living supports, supports coordination, and respite, but community living supports exclude the costs associated with room and board, and respite excludes room and board except when furnished in an MDHHS-approved facility that is not a private residence.U.S. Government Publishing Office. (n.d.). 42 CFR 441.310 — Limits on Federal financial participation (FFP) (eCFR, current). ecfr.gov. Retrieved Sep 3, 2026, from https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/section-441.310 The resident pays room and board from their own income or savings, such as Social Security or a pension.
Related Terms
- Managed Care Organization (MCO): the umbrella term for a Medicaid Health Plan.
- HCBS waiver: the waiver authority MI Choice operates under.
- Activities of Daily Living (ADLs): the daily tasks used to assess need for many services.
Learn More
Find personalized help understanding your Michigan Medicaid benefits at brevy.com.
The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.
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