Dear Neighbor,
I hope this newsletter reaches you and your family safe and healthy.
Featured in this newsletter:
- Upcoming Event
- West Bloomfield Summer Camp Registration is Open
- Fill out your FAFSA
- Meijer recalls salad
- Helping Medicaid members keep their coverage
- Changing auto insurance can impact health insurance
- Get your 2023 fishing license
If you have any other questions or comments you’d like to share with my team, feel free to call (517) 373-2417 or email SenRBayer@senate.michigan.gov. We are here to assist you!
Sincerely,
When: April 28, 2023, from 11am-12pmWhere: Sylvan Lake Community Center, 2456 Pontiac Dr., Sylvan Lake, MI. 48320
For more information, visit my Facebook page.
West Bloomfield Summer Camp Registration is Open
Registration is open for the West Bloomfield Parks summer camp programs. These camps are a great way for your child to make new friends and have fun this summer. Feel free to click here for more information.
Incoming College Students: Fill out your FAFSA!
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) deadline is approaching soon. The deadline is May 1, 2023, to be given priority consideration for some Michigan financial aid programs. Filling out your FAFSA can save you thousands of dollars a year off the cost of community, private, or public college. You can unlock grants, scholarships, and other assistance to put you on the path to higher education right here in Michigan.
One of the new ways you can save money is the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, a bipartisan scholarship we established last year to lower the cost of community, private, or public college by thousands of dollars a year—up to $27,500 over 5 years—for the majority of graduating seniors. All you need to do to qualify for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship is fill out your FAFSA—that’s it. You are probably eligible for more financial aid than you realize, and it is encouraged you fill out your FAFSA as soon as possible!
Meijer Recalls Select Premade Salads Due to Potential Health Risk
Meijer, in conjunction with its supplier, Revolution Farms, is announcing a voluntary recall of select Fresh From Meijer premade salads because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
The recalled premade salads have a Fresh From Meijer sticker on a clear plastic container. The following products are part of the recall:
Customers who have purchased any of these products should immediately throw them away. A full refund can be requested at the Customer Service desk of the nearest Meijer store. Customers with questions regarding this recall can contact Meijer at 800-543-3704 from 7:00 AM – 1:00 AM (EDT) daily. Customers with questions or concerns about their health are encouraged to contact their primary care provider.
Helping Medicaid members keep their coverage
Take action to avoid a gap in coverage
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE), allowing Medicaid members to keep their health care coverage. Per recent federal legislation, eligibility renewals will start again in June. Monthly renewal notifications will be sent by mail beginning in May.
Following these steps will help determine if you still qualify:
- Make sure your contact information is up to date.
- Check mail or text messages for a letter.
- Complete your renewal form (if you get one).
If you’re a Medicaid member, learn more about how these changes may affect your health care coverage at Michigan.gov/2023benefitchanges.
Changing Health Insurance can impact Auto Insurance
Your auto insurance may not be the first thing that comes to mind if you lose or change your health insurance, but there is an important connection that every Michigander should know about.
Under Michigan’s auto insurance law, drivers can choose from six different Personal Injury Protection (PIP) medical coverage levels when they buy or renew their auto insurance, which covers medical bills and other expenses if you are injured in an auto accident. For people who have Qualified Health Coverage (QHC), two options allow you to remove PIP medical coverage for yourself and/or eligible household members.
To count as QHC, your health insurance policy must not exclude or limit coverage for auto accident injuries and must have an individual deductible of $6,000 or less. Medicare Parts A and B or Medicare Advantage also count as QHC, but please note VA Health Benefits do not count as QHC.
If someone in your household does not have PIP medical coverage and has a change in their health insurance, you must ACT:
- A – Ask your auto insurance company or agent about your PIP medical coverage choice and find out if you need QHC to maintain your current selection.
- C – Contact your health insurer to determine if your new policy counts as QHC and to get an updated QHC letter.
- T –Tell your auto insurance company immediately if you lose your QHC. You have 30 days to obtain replacement health insurance or make a different PIP medical selection, or you risk not having medical coverage for yourself and your family in the event of a crash.
If you are interested in learning more or have questions, visit Michigan.gov/AutoInsurance or call the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at (833) ASK-DIFS (275-3437).
Gear up for spring fishing by getting your 2023 fishing license
The new fishing license and regulation season kicked off April 1, so anglers need to be sure they have purchased a new license in order to enjoy Michigan’s great fishing opportunities. The 2023 fishing licenses are valid through March 31, 2024.
Fishing licenses can be purchased at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses or by downloading the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app and purchasing via the app.
The 2023 Michigan Fishing Guide and Inland Trout & Salmon Maps are available online along with a lot of other helpful fishing information – including fishing locations, species identification and tips for beginners – at Michigan.gov/Fishing.