Member Benefits

Pregnancy Care

If you're a new or soon-to-be parent, Blue Cross Complete of Michigan can give you the resources, support and information you need during your pregnancy and after your baby is born.

Blue Cross Complete of Michigan helps provide new or soon-to-be parents the resources, support and information they need.

Bright Start®

Bright Start is a special program for our pregnant members. This program teaches new parents about their baby and helps parents with self-care and eating right.

Our Bright Start program helps ensure you have all you need for a healthy pregnancy and baby. When you join Bright Start, a case manager will call you and work with you to help you receive and use program services. If your pregnancy is high-risk, a team of nurses and care connectors will check in with you often to help you stay connected to care during your pregnancy. This includes notifying your doctor that you’re enrolled in the program.

During and after your pregnancy, it’s important pregnant people make and keep appointments with their doctors and ask questions about their care.  

Bright Start logo

To enroll in Bright Start, call 1-888-288-1722 and select option 2. We’re available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. TTY users should call 1-888-987-5832. 

If you were a part of but no longer want to be in Bright Start, call 1-888-288-1722 and select option 2. We’re available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. TTY users should call 1-888-987-5832. Leaving the program won’t change your benefits. It won’t change the way Blue Cross Complete or the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services treats you.

The Bright Start Welcome Kit (PDF) is an all-inclusive booklet filled with important information for pregnant people and new parents. 

Pregnancy resources

Blue Cross Complete has resources, support and information for new and soon-to-be parents. Click below to learn more.

Parent support groups (PDF) contains a listing of social support groups across the state. Topics include breastfeeding support groups, mentoring programs, parent groups and mental health support. 

The Keys to Your Care® program is here to help you have a healthy pregnancy and baby. We’ll send you text messages every week during your pregnancy and for the first few months after your baby is born.

Text message topics include:

  • How to join our Maternal Infant Health Program for in-home services
  • Tips for eating right and avoiding certain foods
  • The importance of utilizing your dental benefit during pregnancy
  • Scheduling free rides to your doctor’s appointments
  • Joining a tobacco quit program if you smoke
  • Preparing for your baby’s arrival
  • Labor signs and symptoms
  • Important information to know after your baby is born 

Sign up for Keys to Your Care

Text BCCMOM to 85866 to join the Keys to Your Care program. Or, call a member of our Bright Start® team at 1-888-288-1722 and select option two. We’re available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. TTY users should call 1-888-987-5832.

You can earn gift card rewards when you:

  • Sign up for the Keys to Your Care text messaging program
  • Attend your postpartum visit with your doctor

Learn about your pregnancy week by week. Babylist covers common symptoms and your baby’s development during each trimester.

Download the Pregnancy+ app to receive articles and healthcare tips throughout your pregnancy. You can also view interactive 3D models to track the development of your baby. Michigan Medicaid users will have access to information about state programs, breastfeeding resources and support, and mental health resources. 

Your Guide to Breastfeeding from the Office on Women’s Health can help you learn how to breastfeed, how to overcome breastfeeding challenges and help you find answers to common questions.

Maternal Infant Health Program

The Maternal Infant Health Program is Michigan's largest home visiting program. If you’re pregnant, you may be able to receive services at no cost to you through the MIHP. These services may be provided by a social worker, a nurse, a nutritionist or other healthcare provider. Services may include home visits, education and information on pregnancy and postpartum care, community resources and referrals, rides to the doctor and classes about childbirth and parenting.

A mother holds her baby

Pregnant people in MIHP will get access to transportation, WIC and childbirth or parent education classes. Pregnant people will also get home visits from a health care professional (like a nurse or social worker). The health care professional will:

  • Help with prenatal care
  • Answer questions about being pregnant and labor and delivery
  • Answer questions about caring for your baby
  • Help with getting food or a place to live
  • Help you learn about buying, preparing and eating healthy foods
  • Help with health problems that could affect your pregnancy, like diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, depression or anxiety
  • Help with changes that you decide to make to be healthy, such as quitting or cutting down on smoking, alcohol or drugs
  • Help if you’re concerned about abuse or violence in your life
  • Answer questions about family planning (birth control)
  • Connect you with community services, like childbirth education classes, baby pantries that give out baby items for free, the WIC food program, or heat and electricity

Dental benefit for pregnant people

We know how important preventive dental visits are for pregnant people. All Medicaid members ages 21 and older and Healthy Michigan Members ages 19 and older have dental coverage through Blue Cross Complete.

Don’t forget that healthy teeth are an important part of a healthy pregnancy. Periodontal disease is prevalent in pregnant people and can lead to many health complications. Keep periodontal disease under control by following these tips:

  • Brush your teeth at least twice a day.
  • Floss daily.
  • Get a dental check-up and teeth cleaning at least twice a year.
  • Avoid smoking and other forms of tobacco, candy and sugary foods.
  • Eat a well-balanced diet.

If you're under 21, your dental benefits are provided through the Healthy Kids Dental program. To select a dental provider, call Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan at 1-800-936-0935 or visit bcbsm.com/healthykids. Or, call Delta Dental of Michigan at 1-866-696-7441 or visit deltadentalmi.com.

For help finding a network dentist in your area, visit our Find a Doctor page or call 1-844-320-8465. TTY users should call 711.

Doula services

Doulas give physical, emotional and educational support during pregnancy, labor and delivery, and after birth. Before birth they can make sure you have all the information you need and that you feel prepared for your new baby. During birth, they can make sure you’re comfortable while providing emotional and labor support. After birth, doulas can help with newborn care and breastfeeding.

You can receive up to 12 total visits from a doula during the pregnancy and postpartum periods, and one additional visit for birth. Doula services should be provided in person. However, prenatal and postpartum services may be delivered via telehealth. Visit our Find a Doctor page to find a doula in your area. Or call Bright Start at 1-888-288-1722 and select option 2. We’re available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. TTY users should call 1-888-987-5832.

CenteringPregnancy

CenteringPregnancy® is group prenatal care. Families participating in CenteringPregnancy will attend group sessions with other pregnant people with similar due dates. Pregnant people and support partners are educated on childbirth, nutrition, exercise, stress management, breastfeeding, parenting and contraception. Group sessions are 90 to 120 minutes long.

You can attend up to 12 in-person group sessions per pregnancy. Group sessions are in addition to and don’t replace prenatal physical visits. One of the 12 group sessions may be provided with the postpartum visit. For more information, call Bright Start at 1-888-288-1722 and select option 2. We're available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. TTY users, call 1-888-987-5832.

Earn rewards for a postpartum visit

Complete your postpartum visit seven to 84 days (one week to three months) after you deliver your baby and earn a $50 Care Card reward and pack of diapers. Here’s how:

  1. Have your postpartum visit seven to 84 days after you deliver your baby.
  2. After your visit, we’ll send an order form so you can choose the size of diapers you need.
  3. Return the order form and we’ll send your diapers. You’ll get them about a week after we get your order.
  4. Your Care Card will be mailed separately. It works like a gift card and can be used to purchase healthy living items at participating stores. If you already have a Care Card, your $50 reward will be loaded on to it. Allow six to eight weeks processing time after your visit to receive your reward.

Smoking while pregnant or planning a pregnancy?

Wherever you are in your pregnancy, quitting smoking will benefit your baby. According to March of Dimes, smoking during pregnancy makes you three times more likely to have a low birth weight baby than pregnant people who don’t smoke. This includes all types of smoke, including e-cigarettes and marijuana. The good news is, the sooner you stop smoking, the more you increase your chance of having a healthy baby. 

For more information

If you're interested in receiving MIHP services, call 1-888-288-1722. For more information, visit michigan.gov/mihp.