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Michigan Child Insurance Information

The Michigan Child Health Insurance program (MIChild) gives health insurance coverage to qualifying children under 19 years old. As of March 2011, MIChild premium payments are $10 per month per family, no matter what the family size. MIChild offers low income families who do not qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford the cost of private insurance, comprehensive insurance that covers health, dental, mental and substance abuse services.

  1. Residency Requirements

    • All applicants must be residents of Michigan. The state refers to residents as those who live in Michigan and plan to stay in the state indefinitely. They must also be citizens, nationals, qualified immigrants or resident aliens of the U.S. The state requires proof of U.S. residency such as a birth certificate, Green Card (Form I-551) and an Arrival-Departure Record (Form I-94). All applicants must also have valid Social Security numbers. The state makes an exception for newborns awaiting Social Security number assignments.

    Income Eligibility

    • MIChild uses current federal poverty guidelines to determine an applicant's income eligibility. Income amounts must be more than 150 percent and less than or equal to 200 percent of the federal poverty guideline amounts for applicants with children ages of 1 through 19. Income amounts for applicants with children under 1 year old must be must be more than 185 percent and less than or equal to 200 percent of the federal poverty guideline amounts.

    Other Insurance Coverage

    • MIChild applicants that currently have a comprehensive health insurance plan through an employer-based group plan or private insurance are not eligible to receive MIChild. If an applicant voluntarily loses her employer-based insurance coverage --- for example, if she quits her job --- she is not eligible for MIChild until six months after the date she lost coverage. However, if she lost her insurance involuntarily; for example, if her employer decided to stop offering insurance benefits, the state will waive the six-month waiting period.

    Other Determining Eligibility Factors

    • Children who qualify for Medicaid, live in a mental health institution or have insurance coverage through a court order, are ineligible for MIChild. Incarcerated children who reside in a juvenile detention facility, prison, jail or court ordered training school are also ineligible to receive MIChild benefits. The Michigan Department of Community Health does not consider pre-existing conditions, disabilities or the current diagnosis of a mental or physical health condition as determining factors for MIChild.

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