August 8, 2025

Dear Friend,

In July, Republicans in Washington enacted reckless and destructive changes to how Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) work across the country as part of what I’m calling their ‘Big Betrayal Bill.’

Their actions betrayed their constituents by threatening the health, security, and economic stability of tens of millions of Americans—including hundreds of thousands of Michiganders who stand to lose their healthcare coverage and countless working families who depend on SNAP benefits to put food on the table.

That’s why, as governor, I am working closely with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to make sure Michiganders are informed so that we can minimize the negative and destructive impacts of Washington Republican's Medicaid and SNAP cuts here in Michigan.

It’s not going to be easy for people who rely on these programs to get the healthcare and food they need to take care of themselves and their families. That’s why I fought against these changes and shared with our Congressional delegation the stories of the more than 15,000 Michiganders who wrote to my office about how these cuts will devastate their lives. However, Michigan’s Republican representatives chose to vote against their constituents, leaving them with higher costs and without the healthcare they need.

Here in Michigan, we will keep working hard to lower costs, deliver on the kitchen-table issues that make a real difference in your life, and fight to ensure Michiganders can get the help they need to take care of themselves and their families. As governor, I will continue doing everything I can to minimize the negative impacts of the ‘Big Betrayal Bill’ here in Michigan.

See below about changes to Medicaid and SNAP and important updates on how to stay enrolled.

Sincerely,

Gretchen Whitmer

Governor

Changes Coming to Medicaid and SNAP

Republicans in Washington have enacted federal changes to Medicaid and SNAP that create more hoops for families to jump through to receive healthcare or food for their kids, including new work requirements and more frequent renewal requirements.

These changes will cause thousands of Michiganders to lose coverage. That’s why it’s vital to stay informed so that we can keep helping as many Michiganders as possible retain access to the healthcare and food assistance they need.

What’s Not Changing

• MDHHS will still provide Medicaid and SNAP, known as the Food Assistance Program (FAP) here in Michigan, benefits to people who qualify, but you may see your benefits decrease.
• Children, seniors, and people with disabilities will still get benefits without new work requirements. Despite that, new work requirements will still have a negative impact on hundreds of thousands of Michiganders.
• Emergency medical care and pregnancy care through Medicaid will still be covered.
• If you get paperwork from MDHHS, make sure to fill it out completely and correctly, sign it, and return it by the deadline with any required documents.

What’s Changing in Medicaid and the Healthy Michigan Plan (HMP)

• Work Requirements: Starting in January 2027, many people covered through Healthy Michigan Plan (HMP) will need to show they are working or doing other approved activities for 80 hours a month when they apply for or renew their Medicaid benefits. Some individuals may qualify for an exemption from this requirement.

• Eligibility Redeterminations: Also starting in January 2027, people covered through HMP will need to renew their healthcare coverage every six months, instead of once a year.

• Co-Payment Changes: Starting in October 2028, people covered through HMP who make more than 100% of the Federal Poverty Line may have to pay more for their healthcare visits and services.

• Retroactive Coverage Changes: If you apply for Medicaid or forget to turn in a piece of paperwork and have a gap in coverage in January 2027 or after, the number of months your coverage can go back (called retroactive coverage) will be less:
  1. Healthy Michigan Plan: Will cover 1 month back instead of 3 months
  2. Other Medicaid programs: Will cover 2 months back instead of 3 months.
• Non-Citizen Eligibility: Beginning October 2026, some people who are legally residing in the U.S., but are not citizens, will not qualify for full Medicaid coverage. However, they will still have coverage for emergency medical services.

What’s Changing with SNAP or Food Assistance Program (FAP) here in Michigan

• Expense Deduction Changes: Some deductions that help increase your FAP benefits are changing. These changes do not yet have a set start date
  • Only people who are age 60 or older or have a disability will still get the larger utility deduction in their FAP budget if they receive a payment under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). If you are younger than 60, you will no longer receive the utility dedication and receive payment under LIHEAP.
  • The internet expense deduction will no longer count when your FAP amount is calculated.

Once these changes take effect, your monthly FAP benefits may go down.

• Delayed Increases to Benefits: Changes to the Thrifty Food Plan starting in October 2025 may slow down future increases to FAP benefits. Usually, benefits go up each year as food prices rise, but that may not happen as often. This means you could get less in FAP benefits than expected.

• Work Requirements for Some Adults: More people may need to meet work requirements to keep their FAP benefits. Today, most people are excused from these work requirements, but the new law may mean many adults must show proof of work to receive benefits. If you don’t meet the requirements, your benefits may stop after three months. These changes do not yet have a set start date.

•  Immigration Status and Eligibility: If you have not been approved as a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) in the U.S., you may no longer qualify for FAP benefits for yourself. Other members of your household may still qualify if they meet immigration eligibility rules. This change does not yet have a set start date.

• Nutrition Education Programs Ending: Support for nutrition and physical fitness education through SNAP-Ed will end starting October 2025.

Additionally, we need your help! The federal government will no longer cover the full cost of FAP benefits in states with an error rate above 6% starting in October 2027. This will potentially cost the state of Michigan over $300 million. In order to get Michigan’s error rate below 6%, it is important that you report all information for your FAP case to MDHHS accurately and timely. Without your help reporting your information, the state is at risk of losing the money and services that currently allow Michigan to provide the FAP program to you.

What You Can Do Now

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is here to help.

We know this is difficult information and might leave you with questions. We are committed to making this process as smooth as possible for you and your family. Here are some steps you can take now to be ready:

• Update your address, phone number, and email at michigan.gov/mibridges or by calling your local MDHHS office.
• If you get paperwork from us, fill it out, sign it, and send it back by the deadline with any documents we ask for.
• Watch your mail, email, or texts for messages from MDHHS. We will tell you if you need to do anything.
• Visit michigan.gov/mdhhs/assistance-programs if you have questions. MDHHS will soon have a new page on this website that will have updated information about the changes to Medicaid and SNAP (FAP in Michigan).

MDHHS is doing its best to help people who are eligible stay covered by Medicaid and FAP. However, the new law makes several other large cuts to the federal money that Michigan receives today. These changes will cost the state billions of dollars over the next few years. This could make the state’s budget smaller and lead to tough choices about more cuts to these programs. If that happens, we will share details through MI Bridges, letters like this one, and on the MDHHS website.

Please continue to check for up-to-date information and keep your contact information with MDHHS updated so you do not miss important information.

Contact Your Federal Representatives

As governor, I cannot directly control how much funding Congress allocates to Michigan’s SNAP and Medicaid programs. If you are concerned about how President Trump and Republicans’ SNAP and Medicaid cuts could hurt you and your family, it’s important to make your voice heard.

Contact your Member of Congress, the White House, and your U.S. Senator:

• House of Representatives – You may contact your U.S. Representative by calling the U.S. House switchboard at 202-224-3121 or by visiting the U.S. House website at house.gov to find your representative.
• White House Comments line – (202) 456-1111
• White House Switchboard – (202) 456-1414
• Senator Gary Peters – You may contact Senator Peters’ office by calling 313-226-6020 or by visiting his website at peters.senate.gov.
• Senator Elissa Slotkin – You may contact Senator Slotkin's office by calling 202-224-4822 or by visiting her website at slotkin.senate.gov.
• You may also contact my office and make your voice heard at Michigan.gov/Whitmer or call 517-335-7858.