Is There Help in Michigan for People With No Health Insurance?

Residents of Michigan without health insurancehave a number of options for getting care. In addition to receiving health insurance through a private insurer, many residents are also eligible for a number of state and federal programs.

Clinics

• Michigan residents without health insurance can make use of free or sliding-scale clinics. Some of these clinics are run by private nonprofit organizations, while others, such as the state-sponsored Community Health Centers, are public. Membership for private clinics may be limited, and wait times for public clinics may be considerable.

Federal Programs

• Legal Michigan residents are eligible for the two largest federal health care programs, Medicare and Medicaid. Medicaid is a program for individuals and families with little or no income, while Medicare is a program for senior citizens. Both cover the cost of treatment at private facilities licensed to see Medicare and Medicaid patients.

Department of Community Health

• Michigan administers a large number of state programs as well under its Department of Community Health. Examples are as follows: Under MIChild, low-income children can receive insurance. The programs Transitional Medical Assistance and Special N Support provide temporary health care for low-income families who are ineligible for Medicaid. The Maternity Outpatient Medical Service program provides prenatal care to pregnant women.