State guide

Michigan

Programs, dollars, and people that serve autism families in Michigan. Federal protections always apply on top of what you see here.

Michigan overview

Michigan's Medicaid developmental disabilities services are administered through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and delivered through Regional Community Mental Health agencies — contact your local CMH agency to begin eligibility and waiver enrollment. The Autism Alliance of Michigan (AAoM) provides statewide family support, resource navigation, and community programs. The Michigan Alliance for Families (MAF) is the state's PTI center, offering free IEP support. The University of Michigan's Autism and Communication Disorders Center (UMACC) is a major evaluation resource.

Verify program names, URLs, and eligibility on official .gov sites — these change.

⏰ Act now — Medicaid waiver waitlist

Habilitation Supports Waiver (HSW)

Typical wait: Multi-year; priority goes to crisis and institutional transition

Apply through your local CMHSP (Community Mental Health). If your child is under 18 and lives at home, ask about the Children's Waiver Program too — it is a separate route many families are never told about.

Find your CMHSP via michigan.gov/mdhhs or by calling 211.

Apply or learn more →Compare all 50 states

Statewide resources

These four programs exist in every state and are the fastest entry points for most families.

Parent Training & Information (PTI)

Michigan Alliance for Families

(800) 552-4821

Federally funded — free help with IEPs, evaluations, and special ed rights.

Early Intervention (Birth to 3)

Michigan Early On (MDE)

(800) 327-5966

Part C IDEA services for children under 3. Apply immediately after diagnosis.

State Autism Organization

Autism Alliance of Michigan

State-level autism advocacy, family support, and community connection.

Insurance Coverage

Whether private insurance must cover autism treatment in Michigan.

Michigan requires insurance to cover autism treatment

MCL § 500.3406s · enacted 2012

Ages:
An insurer MAY limit coverage to age 18. Note the permissive wording — it is a ceiling the insurer is allowed to apply, not one it must.
Limits:
Three bands, if the insurer chooses to apply them: $50,000 a year through age 6, $40,000 from 7 to 12, and $30,000 from 13 to 18. The Department of Insurance and Financial Services separately ordered in 2014 that issuers may not convert annual dollar limits into visit, hourly or daily limits, so a plan cannot swap one cap for another.

Self-funded employer plans (ERISA) are typically exempt — ask your HR department which type of plan you have.

How to use it, and how to appeal a denial →

Medicaid Waiver

Home and community-based services (HCBS) for autism families in Michigan.

Habilitation Supports Waiver (HSW)

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, through local Community Mental Health Services Programs (CMHSPs)

Michiganders with a developmental disability who would otherwise require the level of care provided in an intermediate care facility (ICF/IID).

How autism qualifies

Autism qualifies where the federal developmental disability definition is met. The decisive test is the ICF/IID level-of-care determination — evidence about daily functional need carries the weight, not the diagnosis alone.

What it can pay for

  • Community living supports
  • Respite
  • Supported employment
  • Family and non-family training
  • Private duty nursing
  • Environmental and vehicle modifications
  • Enhanced medical equipment and pharmacy

How the waiting list is ordered

HSW has had a multi-year waiting list, and slots are limited. Priority typically goes to people transitioning out of institutional settings and to families in crisis, so telling your CMHSP when your situation deteriorates is more consequential than simply waiting your turn.

How to apply

Contact your local CMHSP — find it via michigan.gov/mdhhs or by calling 211. The CMHSP screens for eligibility and helps with the application; the state then reviews and scores it.

Full Michigan waiver detail and sources →

Verified August 2026 against 3 official sources.

Medicaid Managed Care

How Medicaid pays for ABA therapy in Michigan.

Michigan Medicaid (including Healthy Michigan Plan and MIChild)

ABA covered: Under 21

Find or choose your plan

MICHIGAN ENROLLS (enrollment broker)

(800) 975-7630Official page →

Plans in this state

  • Meridian Health Plan of Michigan
  • Blue Cross Complete of Michigan
  • Molina Healthcare of Michigan
  • UnitedHealthcare Community Plan
5 more — see Michigan's full plan list →

Health plan choices depend on your county; MICHIGAN ENROLLS mails the list for your county and can enroll you by phone. ABA for children under 21 is not handled by the health plan: the regional PIHP (through your local community mental health program) does the autism evaluation and authorizes ABA, for up to 365 days at a time.

⚠️ Prior authorization is required before starting ABA services.

Checked against 5 official sources, September 2026. Plans change when states rebid contracts, so confirm with the state.

Michigan guides

Deeper guides where the facts are genuinely specific to Michigan.

Financial help for autism in Michigan

SSI, Medicaid, the waiver and what insurers must cover — and which to apply for first.

Autism evaluation in Michigan

The two free routes, the deadlines they run against, and verified diagnostic providers.

ABA therapy in Michigan

Verified providers, what the state mandate covers, and the questions to ask.

Michigan insurance mandate

The statute, the caps, and how to complain when a plan ignores it.

Therapy & care

  • Michigan Early On (Part C EI)
  • Autism Society of Michigan
  • U-M Autism & Communication Disorders Center

Respite & crisis

  • Michigan MDHHS — Developmental Disabilities

Legal & advocacy

  • Michigan Disability Rights Coalition

By county

83 counties