Medicare expansion enrollment begins through Healthy Michigan Plan

Open enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace under Obamacare just ended, but another health care enrollment period just began that many Michigan residents might be interested in.

The Healthy Michigan Plan, which is the state’s Medicaid expansion, is now open. The plan is expected to steer people away from emergency rooms and into primary care. Department of Human Services offices have staff members on hand ready to help people enroll.

“Statewide, we’re estimating (that) about 375,000 clients (are) eligible,” Michigan Department of Human Services Marquette business center director Doug York said. “With that, we have staff that are lobby navigators who are willing to meet clients (and) work with them through the application process.”

You have to be 19 to 64 years old, you can’t be eligible for Medicaid or Medicare and you have to be earning 133% of the federal poverty level or less. That’s about $16,000 for a single person.

“You can Google it, MI Bridges, and search that and definitely apply through the system,” York said. “It’s a very easy application process online and definitely one that the client can take their time in.”

Besides going online to HealthyMichiganPlan.org or applying in person at a DHS office, there’s also a toll-free phone number through which you can apply. It’s 855-789-5610.