Can't afford a baby? Financial help during pregnancy

Medical care: Medicaid for pregnancy

Michigan Medicaid covers pregnant women with household income up to 195% of the federal poverty level. That limit is higher than for most other adults, so you may qualify now even if you didn't before.

• What it covers: your care during pregnancy, the birth, and the 12 months after the pregnancy ends.
• It stays in place: once you're approved, Medicaid can't be ended during your pregnancy or the year after because your income goes up. It can end early only if you ask for that or move out of state.
• If your income is higher: you may still qualify with a deductible. Ask when you apply.
• If you can only get emergency Medicaid (for example, because of immigration status): a program called MOMS covers prenatal care, ultrasounds, prescriptions and care for two months after the birth. Emergency Medicaid covers labor and delivery. You don't need a Social Security number for MOMS.

How to apply: online at MI Bridges, or at your county MDHHS office. You can apply for food assistance in the same application.

Free home visits: if you're on Medicaid, the Maternal Infant Health Program (MIHP) sends a nurse, social worker or other specialist to help during pregnancy and your baby's first year, at no cost. Call (833) 644-6447 to learn more.

Food and formula: WIC

WIC gives healthy food, formula, nutrition help and breastfeeding support. It's for pregnant women, new moms, and children up to age 5.

• Income: up to 185% of the federal poverty level. If you're on Medicaid or food assistance, you already meet the income rule.
• Citizenship: you have to live in Michigan, but you don't have to be a U.S. citizen.
• How to apply: call 211, or contact your local WIC agency through Michigan WIC.

Rent, utilities and emergencies

State Emergency Relief (SER) is Michigan's program for housing and utility emergencies. It can help with:

• Rent to stop an eviction, when you have a court notice such as an eviction order
• A security deposit and first month's rent if you need to move, and moving costs
• Heat and utility bills, including shutoffs
• Some home repairs

SER pays up to set limits, and there are income and other rules. Apply through MI Bridges or at your county MDHHS office. See State Emergency Relief for details.

Michigan 211 is free, confidential and open 24 hours a day. A person there can point you to local help with rent, utilities, food, clothing and more. Call 211 or 844-875-9211, text your ZIP code to 898211, or search at mi211.org.

Diapers, car seats and baby gear

Many pregnancy centers give diapers, wipes, baby clothes and other items for free. Some may also be able to help with bigger things like a car seat or crib. Their help is free and confidential, and you don't have to have made any decisions to ask. Ask each center what they have.

Find a pregnancy center in Michigan, or search other areas.

Childcare when you go back to work or school

Michigan's Child Development and Care (CDC) program helps families with low income pay for childcare. You need a reason you can't care for your child during those hours, such as:

• Working
• Finishing high school or a GED
• College or an approved job training program
• A medical condition or other family need

The income limit depends on your family size. Apply through MI Bridges. See child care assistance for details.

Pregnant in high school or college: your rights

A federal law called Title IX protects students from discrimination because of pregnancy, childbirth or recovery from them. It applies to schools and colleges that receive federal money, which includes public schools and most colleges. Under the U.S. Department of Education's rules:

• Your school can't kick you out of a class, program or activity because you're pregnant.
• A separate program for pregnant students has to be your choice, and it has to be comparable to the regular one.
• If you need time off, the school has to treat pregnancy as a valid reason for leave, for as long as your doctor says is medically necessary. When you come back, you return to the same status you had before.
• Pregnancy has to be treated the same as other temporary medical conditions.

Start with your school's Title IX coordinator. If you think your school treated you unfairly, you can file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights, usually within 180 days.

Where to start this week

1. Apply for Medicaid on MI Bridges, if you don't have insurance. Add food assistance in the same application.
2. Call 211 to sign up for WIC and ask about local rent or utility help.
3. Call a local pregnancy center for a free ultrasound and baby items.

Not sure how far along you are? Use the pregnancy week calculator. For other kinds of support, see your options.

Sources

1. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). Bridges Eligibility Manual 125: Pregnant Women Medicaid and BEM 657: Maternity Outpatient Medical Services (MOMS).
2. MDHHS. Maternal Infant Health Program: for families.
3. MDHHS. Michigan WIC and WIC frequently asked questions.
4. MDHHS. Emergency Relief Manual 303: Relocation services and ERM 103: Application procedures (2026); State Emergency Relief.
5. MDHHS. BEM 703: Child Development and Care program and BAM 110: Application filing.
6. Michigan 211. mi211.org.
7. U.S. Department of Education. Title IX and pregnancy or parental status; 34 CFR 106.40; How to file a discrimination complaint with OCR.