The Michigan Primary Care Association (MPCA) is a leader in building a healthy society in which all residents have convenient and affordable access to quality healthcare.

An important part of our mission to promote, support and develop comprehensive, accessible and affordable community-based primary health care services is ensuring residents gain health coverage and stay enrolled as long as they are eligible. 

MPCA has had an amazing opportunity to participate in two cycles of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) Outreach and Enrollment Grant program. Our current coverage retention focused initiative partners with seven Health Center organizations who utilize innovative text and voice messaging technology to boost the retention rate of over 100,000 children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP in Michigan. Getting signed up is the first key step, but staying enrolled by completing an annual coverage renewal (retention) is equally important to the health of children and teens. 

Since we started the program, MPCA has increased coverage retention by 21% amongst the population of beneficiaries served. And, the group of Medicaid/CHIP beneficiaries involved in our program now has a retention rate 10% higher than all other beneficiaries in the state of Michigan. We are invested in ensuring children stay covered so that families can access important services like check-ups, shots, doctor and dentist visits, hospital care, mental health services, prescriptions and more without interruption.

A working mother recently shared a success story regarding her Medicaid experience; here is what she had to say:  “My son was born at only 3 pounds and was hospitalized for 2 months. I would have never been able to afford that on my own. Due to him being born premature it will cause some setbacks and instead of just dealing with the fact that he will be behind all his life there are schools for kids his age covered by Medicaid that help him with his speech impediment and gross motor skills, even though he is only one year old. It’s nice to have the help he needs…”

Another young mother was willing to shares her experience with me as well and here’s what she had to say: “My son is on Medicaid and my son’s delivery hospital bill, circumcision, and all his doctor appointments, including shots, are covered! It's really helpful… we would struggle without it! The best part is that there are respectable doctor’s offices that take Medicaid.”

Children and teens up to age 19 may be eligible for Medicaid and CHIP and applying is easy. Parents may now be eligible for Medicaid too given the expansion of Medicaid programs across the country like the new Healthy Michigan Plan for Michiganders. Enrollment does not close for children and teens or for adults signing up for expanded Medicaid programs- individuals can apply any time!

To learn more about Medicaid and CHIP and how to enroll, visit your state’s Medicaid agency or HealthCare.gov. Or call 1-877-KIDS-NOW (1-877-543-7669).