Most Michigan Medicaid members are required to enroll in a Medicaid Health Plan (MHP), Michigan's name for its mandatory managed care organizations. For 2026, nine MHPs are contracted statewide with MDHHS to provide physical-health care (and some dental, vision, and hearing) to the majority of the Medicaid population. Plan choice is hyperlocal: the specific plans available depend on your county.
This guide lists every 2026 MHP, what makes each distinct, which regions they serve, how to switch plans, and how to pick the right one. We'll also cover the two major carve-outs (behavioral health and MI Choice services) that sit outside the MHP.
The Nine 2026 MHPs
Michigan's 2026 Medicaid Health Plans, statewide or regional:
- Aetna Better Health of Michigan (Aetna)
- AmeriHealth Caritas Michigan (AmeriHealth)
- HAP CareSource
- Humana Healthy Horizons in Michigan (Humana)
- McLaren Health Advantage (McLaren)
- Molina Healthcare of Michigan (Molina)
- Priority Health Choice (Priority)
- UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Michigan (UHC)
- Wellcare by Meridian (Meridian)
Plus Upper Peninsula Health Plan (UPHP) which serves the Upper Peninsula.
These MHPs cover "regular" Medicaid members — the large majority of the Medicaid population. A separate set of nine MI Coordinated Health (MICH) plans serves full-benefit dual-eligibles in 10 counties and the Upper Peninsula in 2026; those aren't MHPs but a separate HIDE SNP structure. See our MI Coordinated Health guide for that program.
Who Has to Be in an MHP
Most Michigan Medicaid members must enroll in an MHP. Exceptions include:
- MI Choice Waiver participants for their waiver services (MHP still covers their non-waiver physical-health care).
- Nursing facility Medicaid residents (typically fee-for-service).
- MICH enrollees (who get both Medicare and Medicaid through the MICH plan).
- People in certain short-term coverage categories.
If you're eligible for MHP enrollment, MDHHS will notify you at application or renewal and give you a deadline to pick a plan. If you don't pick, MDHHS auto-assigns you to one.
Plan Availability by Region
Michigan divides MHP service into "Prosperity Regions" (the state's 10 planning regions). Not every plan serves every region. Verified for 2026:
Upper Peninsula (Region 1): Upper Peninsula Health Plan is the dominant carrier. Some statewide MHPs serve UP counties on a limited basis.
Southwest Michigan (Region 8: Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Van Buren): Aetna, Priority, UnitedHealthcare, Wellcare-Meridian. Molina is not available in St. Joseph County.
Macomb County (Region 10): Aetna, AmeriHealth, HAP CareSource, Humana, Molina, Priority, UnitedHealthcare, Wellcare-Meridian.
Wayne County (Region 10): Aetna, AmeriHealth, HAP CareSource, Humana, Molina, Priority, UnitedHealthcare, Wellcare-Meridian.
Other regions: A subset of the statewide MHPs. Check with MI ENROLLS at 1-888-367-6557 for your specific county.
What MHPs Cover
All MHPs must cover a standard package of Medicaid benefits. The important ones for seniors:
- Primary care (regular doctor visits)
- Specialists (cardiology, endocrinology, etc.)
- Hospital inpatient and outpatient
- Lab, X-ray, imaging
- Prescription drugs (subject to each plan's formulary and prior authorization rules)
- Physical, occupational, speech therapy
- Dental (expanded in 2023; some MHPs partner with Delta Dental or similar)
- Vision (annual exam, frames and lenses every 2 years)
- Hearing exams and hearing aids
- Durable medical equipment
- Non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT)
- Pharmacy for Part D-excluded drugs in dual-eligibles
- 24/7 nurse line
What's Carved OUT of the MHP
Two big categories sit outside the MHP:
Behavioral Health and Substance Use
Mental health and substance use disorder services are delivered through Michigan's 10 regional Prepaid Inpatient Health Plans (PIHPs), working with county Community Mental Health Services Programs (CMHSPs). MHPs coordinate with the PIHP but don't deliver behavioral health directly.
MI Choice Waiver Services
If you're enrolled in the MI Choice Waiver, your waiver services (personal care, respite, adult day, home modifications, etc.) flow through your regional Waiver Agency, not your MHP. Your MHP still covers your doctor visits, hospital stays, and prescriptions.
Knowing these carve-outs matters when a family asks "why isn't my MHP paying for my mom's counseling appointments?" or "my mother's MI Choice aide bills weren't covered by her health plan." The answer in both cases is: that service is carved out to a different contractor.
Value-Added Benefits: Where Plans Actually Differ
The Medicaid benefit package is set by the state; the "value-added" benefits each plan throws on top are where you actually see differences. Common VABs across MHPs in 2026:
- Over-the-counter (OTC) allowance: a quarterly credit ($25 to $75) for aspirin, bandages, cold medicine, and similar.
- Supplemental dental above the base state benefit.
- Rideshare for non-medical trips (grocery store, pharmacy).
- Fitness / SilverSneakers gym memberships.
- Healthy food card for members with diabetes or hypertension.
- Cell phone or tablet for telehealth (limited plans).
- Expanded hearing aid coverage.
- Pest control or home safety supports (limited).
- Member rewards for preventive care like flu shots, annual physicals.
Each plan publishes a VAB comparison sheet. Call the plan's member services line and ask for their current 2026 version before choosing.
How to Choose a Plan
A practical decision process:
- Check the provider network first. Call your primary care doctor, your specialists, and any hospital you want to use. Ask which Medicaid plans they accept. This is the single most important criterion; VABs don't matter if your doctor isn't in network.
- Check the pharmacy network and the plan's formulary (drug list). If you take specialty medications, verify they're on the preferred list or that non-preferred alternatives are available.
- Compare dental networks. Adult dental benefits are strong in MI since 2023, but access is uneven. Ask for the plan's current dental network directory.
- Look at value-added benefits. What matters most to you: OTC allowance, transportation, fitness, food card?
- Consider plan reputation. MDHHS publishes an annual Medicaid Consumer Guide with quality ratings.
- Call MI ENROLLS. Free, neutral counseling from the state-contracted enrollment broker at 1-888-367-6557.
How to Switch Plans
Federal rules guarantee the right to switch:
- Within 90 days of your initial enrollment, you can switch plans without cause.
- Annually during an open enrollment period.
- For cause at any time (your doctor leaves the network, quality concerns, a move to a new county, etc.).
To switch, call MI ENROLLS at 1-888-367-6557. The change typically takes 15 to 45 days to process.
Trying to pick a Medicaid Health Plan or switch? Chat with Brevy and we'll walk through network fit, VAB comparison, and pharmacy coverage for your specific situation.
Quick Plan Snapshots
Aetna Better Health of Michigan: Part of the CVS Health/Aetna family. Statewide. Strong pharmacy integration with CVS.
AmeriHealth Caritas Michigan: Independence Blue Cross affiliate. Detroit metro focus.
HAP CareSource: Michigan-based, Detroit metro focus. Historical strength in southeast Michigan.
Humana Healthy Horizons in Michigan: National Medicare Advantage leader expanding into MI Medicaid. Newer entrant.
McLaren Health Advantage: McLaren Healthcare system plan. Strength in mid-Michigan.
Molina Healthcare of Michigan: National Medicaid specialist, strong presence in SE and SW Michigan.
Priority Health Choice: Grand Rapids-based Spectrum Health affiliate. Strong in West Michigan.
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Michigan: National plan with broad network.
Wellcare by Meridian: Centene Corporation plan (formerly Meridian). Detroit metro strength.
Upper Peninsula Health Plan: UP-only, locally governed. Serves most of the UP for MHP and MICH.
Each plan's provider directory is the authoritative source. Individual networks shift.
Common Misconceptions
"All MHPs cover the same thing." The core Medicaid benefits are identical, but networks, pharmacy formularies, prior authorization practices, dental networks, and value-added benefits differ. The plan you pick affects which doctors you can see.
"My MHP covers my mental health." Not directly. Michigan carves behavioral health out to the regional PIHP/CMHSP.
"MI Choice and my MHP conflict." They don't, because they cover different things. MI Choice covers waiver services; the MHP covers your acute physical-health care. You can be enrolled in both.
"I can't switch plans until open enrollment." The 90-day new-enrollee switch window and "for cause" switches are available anytime. Annual open enrollment is only for "without cause" switches after the first 90 days.
"MDHHS picks a plan for me if I don't." True. MDHHS auto-assigns new members to an MHP based on county availability and a federal algorithm. But you can switch within 90 days without cause.
Frequently Asked Questions
Nine MHPs are contracted statewide (Aetna, AmeriHealth Caritas, HAP CareSource, Humana, McLaren, Molina, Priority Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Wellcare by Meridian), plus Upper Peninsula Health Plan serving most of the UP. Plan availability varies by county — use MI ENROLLS at 1-888-367-6557 to see which plans serve yours.
Most Michigan Medicaid members do. Exceptions include MI Choice Waiver participants (MHP still covers their non-waiver care), nursing facility Medicaid residents (typically fee-for-service), MICH enrollees, and people in certain short-term coverage categories. If eligible for MHP enrollment and you don't pick a plan, MDHHS auto-assigns you.
Call MI ENROLLS at 1-888-367-6557. You can switch within 90 days of initial enrollment without cause, annually during open enrollment, or any time "for cause" (doctor leaves network, quality concerns, move to a new county, etc.). Changes typically take 15 to 45 days to process.
Not directly. Behavioral health and substance use disorder services are carved out to Michigan's 10 regional Prepaid Inpatient Health Plans (PIHPs), working with county Community Mental Health Services Programs (CMHSPs). Your MHP coordinates with the PIHP but doesn't deliver behavioral health directly.
MHPs serve "regular" Medicaid members — the large majority of the Michigan Medicaid population. MI Coordinated Health (MICH) plans serve full-benefit dual eligibles (people with both Medicare and full Medicaid) through an integrated HIDE SNP structure. MICH launched January 1, 2026 and operates in 10 counties plus the Upper Peninsula, with statewide expansion planned for 2027. See our MI Coordinated Health guide for more.
Related Terms
- Managed Care Organization (MCO): The national term for what Michigan calls an MHP.
- HCBS waiver: MI Choice is carved out of MHP coverage.
- Consumer Directed Services (CDS): Relevant to MI Choice's Self-Determination Option.
Learn More
- Michigan Medicaid Programs for Seniors (Hub)
- What Does Michigan Medicaid Cover?
- MI Coordinated Health for Dual Eligibles
- How to Apply for Michigan Medicaid
- Michigan Medicaid Dental Coverage
Find personalized help picking a Michigan Medicaid Health Plan 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. MHP rosters, networks, and value-added benefits change. Always verify current plan details with MI ENROLLS, the plan's member services line, or MDHHS. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.