The state's MICH policy bulletin, section 1.2.A, makes that distinction. MDHHS also identifies January 1, 2026 as the launch of MICH following the end of MI Health Link. See the state's program information.
Check coverage for the date of service
Gather the current plan name, member contact number, and any enrollment or transition notice. Ask about the date the care will be provided. A letter concerning next month's coverage should not be used to guess who handles this month's services.
Keep a simple coverage worksheet: current plan; effective date; personal-care contact; authorization reference; approved provider; and next action. Store it privately with the person's consent. You do not need to send those details to CarePay Michigan to ask a general question.
Ask the plan four practical questions
- “Who handles my personal-care assessment and authorization?”
- “Can my current caregiver or agency provide the authorized care, and what enrollment steps remain?”
- “Which tasks, hours, dates, and provider does the authorization cover?”
- “Who should I contact if the care schedule or provider needs to change?”
Write down the answer beside each question, including the date and contact person's name. If the answer is “contact your worker,” ask which worker or department and how to reach them. A specific handoff is easier to follow than a chain of general phone numbers.
Keep care continuity and provider payment together
An illustrative transition: a family has a familiar caregiver and receives a new plan card. They should not assume that the old payment arrangement continues simply because the care remains the same. Their useful next step is to confirm the new authorization, provider participation, and start date in writing.
Ask the current worker and the plan contact how they are coordinating the change. If a required action is pending, note who owns it and when you should check again. Keep copies of decisions rather than relying on a verbal estimate of future coverage.
Provider questions need the plan's contracting route
MDHHS's Home Help tools page links a MICH provider contracting contact list and directs coverage or enrollment questions to the managed-care organization on file for the service date. Providers should confirm that route before submitting or resubmitting a claim.
A provider can prepare a separate checklist: enrollment status; contract contact; authorization number; covered dates; claim submission instructions; and correction contact. This is a preparation tool, not a statement that every plan uses identical paperwork.
What this means for a family researching Home Help
Start with the person's actual coverage. Our Home Help eligibility guide describes the state-administered route. The application walkthrough helps organize an inquiry to Adult Services. If the question concerns skilled care, use our Home Help and Medicare home health comparison to separate the service types before making the call.
CarePay Michigan is an independent information and referral resource. It cannot determine plan enrollment, approve a service, or promise a provider's payment. A useful referral should leave you with the correct decision-maker and a written next step.