Dear Friends,
I hope you’ve been able to enjoy the beautiful weather we’ve been having this week. This week your state legislature returned to session and is gearing up to begin negotiating next year’s state budget. As always, I remain committed to advocating for funding in the areas our community needs it most.
Featured in this newsletter:
- April 2023 is Arab American Heritage and Chaldean-American Month
- Senator Santana’s Community Capitol Day
- Helping Medicaid members keep their coverage
- Changing Health Insurance can impact Auto Insurance
- Detroit launches Downpayment Assistance program with 13 lenders ready to help more Detroiters become homeowners
- Native Plant Month
- Gear up for spring fishing by getting your 2023 fishing license
Please do not hesitate to call my office at (517) 373-0990 or reply to this email if you have any questions or need assistance.
Working for you,
Sylvia Santana
State Senator
District 2
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.
Senator Santana’s Community Capitol Day
Please join me Tuesday, May 16, 2023, for Community Day at the Capitol. I invite you to come tour the Capitol as well as hear from some of our State Departments, who will be sharing briefings and updates with you all. I will be sharing a legislative update as well.
Round trip transportation will be provided, departing at 7:30am from Ford Community & Performing Arts 15810 Michigan Ave., Dearborn, MI 48126 with a return time of 4:00pm. Lunch will also be provided. Transportation is limited to 50 people, so reserve your spot as soon as possible by calling my office at (517) 373-0900 or email senssantana@senate.michigan.gov.
I look forward to meeting with you all then! If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office, which can be reached by phone at (517) 373-0900 or by email at senssantana@senate.michigan.gov.
WHAT: Community Day at the Capitol
WHEN: Tuesday, May 16, 2023, from 7:30 am-4:00 pm
WHERE: Lansing State Capitol
Departing From: Ford Community & Performing Arts 15801 Michigan Ave., Dearborn, MI 48126
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.
Detroit launches Downpayment Assistance program with 13 lenders ready to help more Detroiters become homeowners
Mayor Mike Duggan, City Council members and the Detroit Housing & Revitalization Department announced a landmark program today that will provide Detroiters who do not currently own a home with up to $25,000 in downpayment assistance to help them realize the American Dream of homeownership.
The program is available to lower-income earners who may be able to afford a monthly mortgage payment but don’t have savings enough for a downpayment. For a single person to qualify, for example, they would have to earn less than $41,000 per year.
The mayor and councilmembers laid out three steps for Detroiters to follow to take advantage of the program.
- Find a lender from among the 13 partner organizations in the program. The participating lenders are Bank of America, Chase, CIBC, Citizens, Fifth Third Bank, First Independence Bank, First Merchants Bank, Flagstar Bank, Huntington Bank, Independent Bank, Liberty Bank, PNC Bank and Rocket Mortgage.
- Find a house you want to buy.
- Apply to the program at www.detroitdpa.org.
The Downpayment Assistance Program is geared primarily toward renters, but also is available to those who lost their home to foreclosure in 2010-16 and are attempting to purchase a new one. The program will be overseen by the Detroit Housing & Revitalization Department and implemented by National Faith Homebuyers, a Detroit-based nonprofit that since 1996 has assisted metro Detroiters in buying a house or staying in their homes, including down-payment assistance, first-time homebuyer counseling, and financial literacy programs.
Native Plant Month
As we roll into spring and notice beautiful colors returning to our surroundings, we also celebrate April as Native Plant Month. Michigan is home to more than 1,800 native plant species which include large shade trees, shrubs, vines, wildflowers, and everyone’s favorite spring flower, the orange traffic cone. To protect our environment—including our native plants—record investments have been made in conservation and natural resources through the Building Michigan Together Planand the MI Healthy Climate Plan. Let’s keep working together to preserve our green spaces.
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.