What Is the MI Choice Medicaid Waiver Program?
A Complete Guide for Michigan Families
Your mom is having a harder time getting around the house. Maybe your dad had a fall last week. Or maybe you’re the one who needs a little more help with everyday things - bathing, getting dressed, making meals.
You’ve heard about nursing homes. But that doesn’t feel right. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
Here’s the good news: a nursing home is not the only option.
It’s called the MI Choice Medicaid Waiver Program - and it helps people get the care they need to stay in their own home instead of moving to a nursing facility.
If you’re an adult daughter or son trying to figure out the best plan for an aging parent, or you’re a senior or an adult with disabilities who wants to stay right where you are, this guide is for you. We’re going to walk through exactly what MI Choice is, what it covers, who qualifies, and how to get started.
“Mom needs a nursing home; there’s no other option.” — That’s one of the most common things we hear. And most of the time, it’s not true.
What Is the MI Choice Medicaid Waiver?
MI Choice is a program funded by the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS) through Medicaid. It provides in-home care, community support, and other services for adults who would otherwise need to live in a nursing home.
Think of it this way: instead of moving to a facility, a team works with you to build a care plan - right where you live. That could be your own house, an apartment, an assisted living home, or an adult foster care home.
Here’s an important thing to understand: MI Choice is care coordination, not medical treatment. That means a team of Support Coordinators, nurses and social workers who work together, help you figure out what you need and connect you with the right services. They manage the whole process so you don’t have to.
The Information Center is one of 19 waiver agencies in Michigan that runs this program. We’re based right here in Taylor and serve families across Out-Wayne County.
5 Things MI Choice Covers That May Surprise You
Many families don’t realize how much MI Choice actually covers. Here are five examples that surprise people the most:
1. Home Delivered Meals
If cooking has become hard or unsafe, MI Choice can arrange for nutritious meals to be delivered right to your door. You don’t need to worry about going hungry or relying on fast food.
2. Home Modifications
Grab bars in the bathroom. A ramp at the front door. Wider doorways for a wheelchair. MI Choice can cover changes to your home that make it safer and easier to get around. These are called Environmental Accessibility Adaptations.
3. Personal Emergency Response Systems
You may have heard of “medical alert buttons.” MI Choice can provide a personal emergency response system — a button you wear or keep nearby. If you fall or need help fast, you press it and someone responds right away. That peace of mind means a lot, especially if you live alone.
4. Community Living Supports
This is the kind of everyday help that makes the biggest difference. Community Living Supports covers things like help with errands, housekeeping, laundry, getting dressed, showering, and other daily tasks that have become harder to do on your own. It's the hands-on, day-to-day support that keeps people safe and comfortable at home.
5. Community Transportation
Rides to the doctor. Rides to the pharmacy. Even rides to pick up groceries or get to a community event or to attend church. MI Choice covers both medical and non-medical non-emergency transportation so you’re not stuck at home when you need to get somewhere.
The Full List of MI Choice Services
Beyond those five, here is the complete list of services and supports available through MI Choice. Not everyone gets all of them — your care plan is built around your specific needs:
Adult Day Health (Adult Day Care) — A safe, supervised place during the day with activities, meals, and social time. Great for caregivers who work during the day.
Assistive Technology — Devices and tools that help you do things more easily on your own, like special grips, reaching aids, or communication devices.
Chore Services — Help with heavier tasks around the house like deep cleaning, yard work, or seasonal chores that have become too difficult.
Community Health Worker — A trained helper from your community who can assist you with health education, appointment follow-up, and connecting to local resources.
Community Living Supports — Help with daily activities like laundry, meal preparation, light housekeeping, shopping, and personal care tasks.
Community Transportation — Rides to non-emergency medical appointments, errands, and community activities — both medical and non-medical.
Counseling — Emotional support to help you work through the changes in your life. Adjusting to needing help at home can be stressful, and you don’t have to do it alone.
Environmental Accessibility Adaptations — Modifications to your home like ramps, grab bars, and widened doorways that make it safer to live there.
Fiscal Intermediary — If you choose to hire and manage your own caregivers through the self-determination option, this service handles the payroll and tax paperwork for you.
Goods and Services — Everyday items you need that support your care plan and aren’t covered through other programs.
Home Delivered Meals — Nutritious meals brought to your door when cooking is no longer safe or easy.
Nursing Services — Preventative nursing care in your home to help manage health conditions and avoid trips to the hospital.
Personal Emergency Response System — A wearable alert button that connects you to help immediately if you fall or have an emergency.
Private Duty Nursing / Respiratory Care — More specialized nursing for people with complex health needs who require ongoing skilled support.
Residential Services — Support for people living in licensed settings like adult foster care homes or homes for the aged, so you still get the help you need even outside a private residence.
Respite — Temporary relief for your family caregiver so they can take a break and recharge.
Specialized Medical Equipment and Supplies — Items like electronic pill dispensers and liquid nutrition that help you stay safe and independent at home.
Structured Family Caregiving — A program that trains and pays a family member or someone close to you to be your caregiver. You get care from someone you already trust.
Supports Brokerage — A service that helps you find, organize, and manage your own care providers if you want more control over how your services are set up.
Supports Coordination — Your Support Coordinator team (a nurse and a social worker) manages your entire care plan, checks in regularly, and adjusts everything when things change.
Training — Education for you or your family on how to manage care at home, use equipment, or handle specific health needs.
Vehicle Modifications — Changes to a vehicle so you can get in and out safely, like wheelchair lifts, hand controls, or modified seating.
Your care plan is built around you and what you need. And here’s something that sets MI Choice apart: you get to help choose your own caregiver. You’re always part of the decision.
Who Qualifies for MI Choice?
This is the question we hear the most. And it’s the one where most families get the wrong answer, because they give up before they even check.
You may qualify for MI Choice if:
• You are 65 or older, OR you are 18 or older with a disability and receiving state or federal disability benefits
• You currently have Medicaid, you have a Medicaid application pending, or you are eligible for Medicaid
• You need the level of care that a nursing home provides (a Support Coordinator helps determine this)
• You live in Wayne County - excluding Detroit, Hamtramck, Highland Park, Harper Woods, and the Grosse Pointes
• You want to stay in your home, an apartment, an assisted living facility, or an adult foster care home
Myth vs. Fact: “I Make Too Much to Qualify”
This is the biggest myth we see. Let’s set the record straight.
MYTH: “My mom gets Social Security and a small pension, so she probably makes too much for Medicaid.”
FACT: Eligibility isn’t just about income. It also looks at your health needs, your assets, and your living situation. Many people who assume they don’t qualify are surprised when they actually do. The income limits are higher than most families think.
MYTH: “You have to be completely broke to get Medicaid help.”
FACT: Michigan has special rules for people who need nursing-home-level care. Even if you own a home or have some savings, you may still qualify. A quick phone call can help you find out.
MYTH: “MI Choice is only for people who are very sick or bedridden.”
FACT: You don’t have to be bedridden. If you need help with daily tasks like bathing, dressing, preparing meals, or managing medications — and that need rises to a nursing home level — you may qualify. It’s about what you need help with, not how sick you look.
How Is This Different from a Nursing Home?
In a nursing home, you live at the facility full-time. Someone else sets the schedule - when you eat, when you sleep, when you have visitors. You leave your home, your neighbors, and your daily routine behind.
With MI Choice, you stay where you are. The help comes to you. You keep your routine, your independence, and your choices.
Here’s a quick way to think about the difference:
Nursing Home: You move to the care.
MI Choice: The care moves to you.
And here’s something important: MI Choice is designed to work alongside the help you already have. If your daughter comes by on Tuesdays to help with errands, MI Choice doesn’t replace that. It fills in the gaps around it. The goal is to make it easier for the people who already help you, not to take over.
Most costs for services and care are covered by the program. That means you’re not choosing between staying home and going broke.
You’re in Charge of Your Care Plan
One of the best things about MI Choice is that you’re not just told what’s going to happen. You help decide.
This is called person-centered planning. It means:
• You choose who is invited to your planning meetings
• You customize your services based on your assessed health and safety needs.
• You choose who delivers those services — and when
• You can change providers at any time if something isn’t working
• Your plan focuses on what you can do, not just what you need help with
Your Support Coordinator team, a nurse and a social worker, builds the plan with you, not for you. They look at your strengths, your preferences, and what matters most to you.
Some people want even more control. There’s an option called self-determination that lets you manage your own budget, arrange your own services, and hire your own aides. If that sounds like something you’d want, ask your Support Coordinator about it.
How Does the Process Work? A Step-by-Step Look
Getting started is simpler than most people expect. Here’s what happens from the first phone call:
1. You call The Information Center at 734-282-7171. A real person answers, not a robot. Tell us about your situation. We’ll ask a few questions to see if MI Choice might be a fit.
2. We check your eligibility. We look at things like your care needs, age, location, Medicaid status, income, and assets. We help you apply and navigate the process.
3. A Support Coordinator visits you at home. A nurse and a social worker come to your home and sit down with you, and any family members you’d like to include. They’ll ask about your daily life, what’s getting harder, and what kind of help would make the biggest difference.
4. Together, you build a personalized care plan. Based on your needs and your preferences, you’ll choose the services that are right for you. You can suggest changes, ask questions, and make sure you’re comfortable with the plan.
5. Services begin. Your coordinator connects you with providers and makes sure everything starts smoothly.
6. Your coordinator checks in regularly. Usually about once a month by phone, and a couple of visits to your home each year. If something isn’t working, or your needs change, they adjust your plan. You’re never locked into something that isn’t right.
You’re never alone in this. From the first call to ongoing care, The Information Center walks with you every step.
Who Is The Information Center?
The Information Center, Inc. is a nonprofit organization based in Taylor, Michigan. We’ve been helping families across Wayne County for decades.
We’re not a hospital. We’re not an insurance company. We’re a team of real people who help other people stay in their homes, connect with services, and live with dignity.
Our team includes Support Coordinators (nurses and social workers), community navigators, and trained specialists who know the programs inside and out. We assess your needs, connect you with the right care, and manage the whole process from start to finish.
Here’s how we like to say it: We help people. That’s what we do, every day.
We serve families throughout Western Wayne County and the Downriver communities.
Your Rights as an MI Choice Participant
When you’re part of MI Choice, you have rights, and they matter. Here are some of the most important ones:
• You must always be treated with respect and dignity
• You choose where you receive your services — your home, your community, your choice
• You can involve anyone you want in your planning process — a daughter, a pastor, a trusted friend
• You get a complete copy of your care plan
• You can refuse any service that doesn’t feel right to you
• Your health and financial records are kept private
• You can file a complaint or grievance if you’re unhappy with your care
This program is built around respect for your independence and your choices. You’re not giving up control by accepting help, you’re gaining support.
Common Questions Michigan Families Ask
“Does my mom make too much to qualify?”
Maybe not. Eligibility looks at more than income — it also considers health needs and assets. Many families are surprised to learn they do qualify. The only way to know for sure is to call and ask.
“Is MI Choice the same as Medicare?”
No. MI Choice is a Medicaid program, not Medicare. They’re two different programs with different rules. You can be on both Medicare and Medicaid at the same time.
“Can my parent still pick their own caregiver?”
Yes! Person-centered planning means you choose who helps you, when they help, and how. You can even change providers if something isn’t working.
“What if my parent’s needs change over time?”
That’s expected. Your Support Coordinator checks in regularly and adjusts the care plan whenever things change. You’re never locked into something that no longer fits.
“Do I have to give up my home to qualify?”
No. The whole point of MI Choice is to help you stay in your home. You don’t have to sell your house or give up your belongings.
“What if I’m not sure my parent qualifies?”
Call us. That’s what we’re here for. We’ll walk through the basics with you over the phone. It’s free, it’s confidential, and there’s no obligation.