Michigan Medicaid, SCHIP, & Federal Authority

Health Insurance Flexibility and Accountability (HIFA) Waiver - In 2004, the state received approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to expand health insurance coverage to childless adults with incomes at or below 35 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) by utilizing unspent State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) funds.  The Adults Benefits Waiver [1] program was designed to provide new beneficiaries with a benefits package that is less broad than Michigan’s standard Medicaid or SCHIP coverage. In order to meet the HIFA requirements for coordinating with private insurance, Michigan is also offering to those beneficiaries with access to employer-sponsored insurance a voucher that is equal in value to the state’s cost of providing service. Enrollment in the employer-sponsored plan is in lieu of receiving benefits through the state program.