Note From Erika
Hello friends and neighbors,
I hope everyone is getting outside and enjoying the sunshine and warm weather! 🌞
On Tuesday, April 11, 2023 the new Senate majority reached 100 days of action. We’ve managed to get a lot done in the past 100 days including expanding ELCRA to ban discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community in Michigan, restoring workers rights, repealing the retention portion of the read by 3rd grade laws, repealing the outdated 1931 abortion ban, passing gun violence prevention legislation, and more. We have accomplished many goals in the first 100 days, but there is still much more work to be done to improve the lives of Michiganders.
Sincerely,
Erika Geiss
State Senator — 1st District
(517) 373-7800
In this Edition:
- Community Updates
- Black Maternal Health Week 2023
- Arab-American and Chaldean American Month
- Tax Day 2023
- Helping Medicaid members keep their coverage
- Changing Health Insurance can impact Auto Insurance
- DIFS shares mortage guidance with consumers
COMMUNITY UPDATES
Taylor Heritage Park Cleanup Day
The 8th annual Heritage Park Cleanup Day is quickly approaching! Anyone who enjoys Heritage Park is welcome to attend and participate. That includes individuals, civic and school organizations and even business groups.
WHEN: Saturday, April 22, 2023, from 9 – 11 am
WHERE: Heritage Park, 12111 Pardee Road, Taylor, MI 48180
If attending, please meet in the Pardee Road parking lot (in front of the Sheridan Center Open Air Pavilion) at 9am. Dress appropriately. Heavy boots are recommended and gloves are a must. For more information, call Jim Taylor at (734) 666-8968.
Motor City Makeover
Take part in keeping Detroit a beautiful place by attending one of the clean up and beautification projects that will take place three Saturdays in May. This is a great way to get involved in the community, meet new people, get outdoors, express creativity, and be proud of the community you live in. Register right now by clicking here. See the graphic below for more details!
Juneteenth Poetry Contest
The City of Detroit’s Civil Rights, Inclusion, and Opportunity Department is hosting a Juneteenth Poetry Contest for any Detroit students grades 9-12. The deadline to enter is May 15, 2023! See the graphic below for additional details.
BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH WEEK 2023
April 11 – April 17, 2023 recognizes the 6th annual Black Maternal Health Week. Founded by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, this week is all about awareness, activism, and amplifying the voices of Black Mamas. Black women receive lower quality health care than white women leading to an increased maternal mortality rate and other disproportionate health outcomes. Black women are 3 times more likely to die from preventable pregnancy-related causes than white women. These disparities are a product of current and historical oppression of Black women and reproductive healthcare.
This year’s theme for Black Maternal Health Week is ‘Our Bodies Belong to Us: Restoring Black Autonomy and Joy.’ With growing mortality rates and the relentless attacks against reproductive rights and bodily autonomy across the country, it is imperative to speak to our strength, power, resilience, and our right to live freely and safely. I will continue fighting for Black Mamas during and after Black Maternal Health Week.
APRIL 2023 IS ARAB AMERICAN HERITAGE AND CHALDEAN-AMERICAN MONTH
The month of April celebrates Arab American Heritage and Chaldean-American Month to commemorate the valuable contributions that Middle Eastern Americans have made to virtually every aspect of American society in medicine, law, business, education, technology, government, military service, culture, and more. Middle Eastern Americans have also enriched our society by sharing in the entrepreneurial American spirit that makes our nation free and prosperous.
The Chaldean Assyrian Syriac community enriches Michigan’s cultural tapestry and prosperity through their success in the arts, business, law, politics, education, medicine, architecture, and engineering. Michigan is home to one of the largest Arab American communities in the U.S., as well as the largest concentration of Chaldean Assyrian Syriacs in the country.
TAX DAY 2023
Tax Day 2023 is right around the corner. Be sure to file your federal AND state taxes no later than Tuesday, April 18, 2023.
If you have questions regarding your state of Michigan income tax report, check out this Detroit Free Press article that addresses 15 different questions people may have: Tax Day in Michigan 2023: Due date, refund, more questions (freep.com)
If you filed your state of Michigan income tax return, you can check online to find updates.
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.
COVID-19 BOOSTER VACCINATIONS
Bivalent Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are still available for booster shots in Michigan. To locate providers offering the Pfizer and Moderna bivalent booster doses check your local pharmacy or visit http://vaccines.gov.
DIFS SHARES MORTGAGE GUIDANCE WITH CONSUMERS
As interest rates continue to rise, the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) is offering important guidance to consumers considering a mortgage soon.
There are many different types of mortgage loans, each of which has risks and benefits depending on your financial situation. Both fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages have multiple options for borrowers, but it is important to know which mortgage type is right for you. A fixed-rate mortgage is a home loan with an interest rate that remains the same over the lifetime of the loan. An adjustable-rate or variable rate mortgage is a home loan with an interest rate that changes over the lifetime of the loan.
If you are thinking about getting a mortgage to purchase a home but are not sure which type is right for you, consider these questions:
- Is my income enough to cover higher monthly payments if interest rates go up? Tip: Don’t just ask for the lowest monthly payment without understanding the terms of the loan and whether it’s possible for your monthly payments to increase.
- How much of a down payment can I afford to make?
- Will I be taking on other sizeable debts, such as a loan for a car or school tuition, soon?
- How long do I plan to own this home? Tip: Changing interest rates could significantly impact the amount you owe over the lifetime of your loan depending on the type of mortgage you choose.
- Do I plan to refinance the loan at any time? When?
- Do I plan to make any additional payments or pay the loan off early? Tip: Some adjustable-rate mortgages have a prepayment penalty.
- Am I a military veteran, on active military duty, or a surviving spouse of someone in the armed forces who may be eligible for a VA backed loan?