One of the important kinds of help that Heather gets from Medicaid is coverage of the prescription drugs she takes to treat her depression. Staying in good mental health enables Heather to be productive and stay engaged with her friends and community. Medicaid is the largest single source of financing for mental health care in the nation, covering over a quarter of all spending. Medicaid plays such a large role because it covers many people with significant needs and it pays for a broad range of services. About one in 20 Medicaid beneficiaries have a mental illness severe enough for them to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a federal cash assistance program for low-income aged, blind, and disabled individuals that triggers automatic eligibility for Medicaid in most states. However, about two-thirds of Medicaid beneficiaries who use mental health services qualify for Medicaid on some other basis.

For more information on Michigan’s Medicaid program and other data on health coverage, access and expenditures, please visit Michigan’s page at www.statehealthfacts.org.