We released our report on the dangers of Medicaid work requirements and we fought tirelessly to stop those requirements from becoming law in Michigan, but in June Gov. Rick Snyder’s signature did just that. And while parts of the law were improved by the time it reached the governor’s desk, some disturbing language was added that could result in the end of the Healthy Michigan Plan, which insures over 650,000 Michiganders.
Now is your chance to act.
The federal public comment period on Public Act 208 runs through Friday, Oct.26. We’re encouraging folks to submit their comments here so that we can submit them. This is your opportunity to make your voice heard on this dangerous legislation.
Stories and comments from you could make all the difference in this fight. Whether you personally receive Medicaid or whether you simply understand the positive impact it has on your community, your voice matters.
Here are just a few of the comments that have been submitted so far.*
We are a state with deep economic inequality and way too many people living in poverty. Poverty should not prevent people from getting health care! It really is as simple as that. Medicaid is a health care program, not a work program; it should be organized for this one purpose.
–C.R., Ingham County
I have family members that are disabled, unable to hold down a job, and cannot afford healthcare. Medicaid expansion is the only reason they receive the care they do right now.
–D.B., Ottawa County
After being without insurance for many years, Medicaid allowed me to receive care for a chronic issue that adversely affected my life for many years. I was able to work and function but at a limited level. The Healthy Michigan Plan allowed me to get constant care and raise my health level.
–Anonymous, Wayne County
Hundreds of working families and young adults who will soon be starting families face barriers that could cost them coverage under the Healthy Michigan Plan changes, putting that cornerstone of a healthy life—regular health care services—in jeopardy for many children and youth.
– Michigan’s Children
My father was covered by Medicaid when he had life-saving surgery for an aortic aneurysm and at the end of his life when he was hospitalized for over a month. These conditions would have bankrupted all of his children—myself and my two siblings.
–S.M., Oakland County
On the surface so many of these “work for” plans sound reasonable. As always, the devil is in the details. Are the people prepared to find gainful employment in their current environment and does such gainful employment exist? A single parent faces many unusual problems. Are we prepared to offer help? Will this actually result in a societal savings or simply defer problems until they reach the crisis level?
I ask you to consider this very carefully. Most people I have known who find themselves relying on Medicaid are very anxious to move their lives forward to gainful employment. Might our efforts not be better directed toward living assistance, training, and perhaps relocation assistance? I say this respectfully knowing that we face a multitude of problems which we try to solve with increasingly scarce resources.
–S.B., Kent County
When I left my job to become a full-time law student I was placed on Medicaid. Without it I could not have afforded insurance. It saved me!
– J.N., Jackson County
Two of the most salient amendments to Healthy Michigan Plan proposed by the State are the addition of community and workforce engagement requirements and premium payments as a condition of continued Medicaid coverage through the Healthy Michigan Plan. The Center for Civil Justice(CCJ) believes that both of these changes are detrimental to both the welfare of the Healthy Michigan Plan program and that of Michigan residents who rely on the Healthy Michigan Plan in order to maintain their health and well-being. If the proposed amendments to HMP are implemented, CCJ believes that enrollment in the program will steeply decline due to noncompliance, burdensome reporting requirements, and administrative error.
–Center for Civil Justice
Medicaid helped us when we moved and had two small children. One of us had to watch them and my husband could only find a part-time job. Thankfully we had family support and we were able to move again to a better area and find work, but many other families are not as fortunate. My children are still on MI Child and I am thankful for that program. Our jobs do not offer health insurance and the marketplace coverage for us adults is already high.
–K.W., Muskegon County
I have had to use the Healthy Michigan Plan on and off throughout the past seven years. I’m a single mom with two children and until recently did not receive any child support nor was the biological father involved. Childcare assistance subsidizes pennies on the dollar for childcare that cost me upwards of $800/month. Transportation costs, and making too much to qualify for much in food stamps made survival with basic necessities like food more important than figuring out how to pay the outstanding childcare balance. Then I would lose childcare and then lose my job because I had to take care of my children.
–A.C., Unnamed County
Michigan’s Medicaid program has been a vital resource for over a million people in our state. Medicaid provides essential health benefits for an at-risk population, which benefits not only the individual but the community as a whole, helping to keep down hospital costs and expenses for the state.
– E.M., Oakland County
Comments like these can make a major impact moving forward.
The comment period is critical to explain the harm that could result from these changes. Comments collected during Kentucky’s public period were crucial in the court decision to reject the Center on Medicaid and Medicare’s (CMS) approval of the Kentucky work requirements waiver. That court called the approval of the waiver “arbitrary and capricious” because CMS did not properly address the opposing comments or the impact on coverage.
*These comments have been submitted by members of the public and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Michigan League for Public Policy.
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
