Michigan · waiver service
MI Choice Waiver Program in Michigan
MI Choice is Michigan's Medicaid waiver for adults who meet nursing facility level of care but want to live at home. Regional waiver agencies assess people, coordinate care, and pay for services such as Community Living Supports (in-home personal care). Through the Self-Determination option the participant can hire their own workers, including relatives, with a fiscal intermediary handling payroll.
Also called: MI Choice · MI Choice Waiver · HCBS/ED waiver · MI Choice Self-Determination · Michigan nursing home waiver
Who do you care for?
Quick facts
- Pay
- Wage set in Self-Determination budget — not published
- Adult children & other relatives
- Yes
- Spouse
- Sometimes
- Parent of a minor child
- Not right now
- Waitlist
- capped
Who qualifies for MI Choice Waiver Program
- Age 18 or older.
- Meets Michigan's Nursing Facility Level of Care Determination (NFLOC).
- Meets MI Choice financial (income and asset) criteria for Medicaid.
- Needs at least one waiver service in addition to supports coordination.
Who can be paid as the caregiver
- Adult children & other relatives Yes
- the waiver allows payment to qualified relatives for waiver services, and Self-Determination lets participants recruit and hire their own workers.
- Spouse Sometimes
- the waiver says legally responsible individuals (which include spouses) cannot also be the worker through self-determination; some sources report spouses can be paid, so confirm with your waiver agency.
- Parent of a minor child Not right now
- MI Choice serves adults 18 and older.
- Living together
- workers may or may not live with the participant.
Who employs the caregiver: Either. Traditional agency-delivered services through the waiver agency's provider network, or the Self-Determination option where the participant employs workers and a fiscal intermediary handles payroll.
Spouse rules differ by program — see spouse pay in Michigan.
How much MI Choice Waiver Program pays
Wage set in Self-Determination budget — not published. Under Self-Determination the participant sets the worker's wage within the budget for authorized services, paid through a fiscal intermediary. Agency workers are paid what the agency sets. MDHHS does not publish a MI Choice family-caregiver wage.
Hours and budget: A supports coordinator from the waiver agency builds a person-centered service plan and authorizes services such as Community Living Supports and respite.
Compare with other Michigan programs on the Michigan caregiver pay page, or across states in pay rates by state.
Is there a waitlist?
Each waiver agency has a set number of slots per fiscal year. When an agency is at capacity, applicants are screened with the MI Choice Intake Guidelines and placed on that agency's waiting list by priority category (such as nursing facility transitions and people at imminent risk of nursing home admission), then by date.
How to apply for MI Choice Waiver Program
- Find the MI Choice waiver agency for your county (MDHHS lists agencies on its MI Choice page; many are Area Agencies on Aging).
- Call the agency for a phone screening with the MI Choice Intake Guidelines.
- If a slot is open, the agency does an in-home Nursing Facility Level of Care Determination and helps with the Medicaid application; otherwise you are placed on the waiting list.
- Once enrolled, ask your supports coordinator about Self-Determination and hiring a relative as your worker.
- MDHHS MI Choice Waiver Program (agency list) · not published on this page · official site
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MI Choice Waiver Program questions
Can I get paid to care for my parent through MI Choice?
Yes, in many cases. MI Choice allows payment to qualified relatives, and under Self-Determination your parent can hire you as their worker.
Is there a waiting list for MI Choice?
Often. Each waiver agency has a limited number of slots. When full, it screens applicants and places them on a waiting list by priority group and date.
Can a spouse be paid under MI Choice?
It is unclear. The waiver document says legally responsible individuals cannot also be the worker through self-determination, while some guides say spouses can be hired. Ask your waiver agency.
What is the difference between MI Choice and Home Help?
Home Help is a Medicaid personal care benefit with no waiting list. MI Choice is a waiver for people who need nursing-home-level care and offers more services, but has limited slots.
What services does MI Choice cover?
Supports coordination plus services such as community living supports, respite, adult day health, home-delivered meals, chore services, nursing, PERS, home modifications and a fiscal intermediary for self-direction.
Sources: michigan.gov · michigan.gov · michigan.gov · medicaidplanningassistance.org · Updated 2026-10-08. Program rules change — always confirm with the program.
Where most Michigan caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Michigan — pick yours for the local picture.