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® Maternity Program 

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You can join Bright Start by calling 1-888-288-1722 and selecting option 2. We’re available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. TTY users, call 1-888-987-5832. 

You need the right care and support to help you have a healthy pregnancy and baby. That’s what our Bright Start maternity program is all about. Plus, you can earn rewards through the program.

Our Bright Start team is here to help you:

  • Learn more about the care you need before and after your baby is born
  • Set up health care visits
  • Find health care providers who are right for you and your baby
  • Connect to local resources
  • Learn more about our plan’s benefits and services 

If you don’t want to be a part of this program — or if you leave the program after you sign up — it will not change your benefits. 

It also will not change the way Blue Cross Complete or the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services treats you.

How can Bright Start help me?

Our Bright Start team can help you choose a health care provider who is right for you and your baby.

  • If you need help finding a provider that’s right for you, call Customer Service at 1-800-228-8554 24 hours a day, seven days a week. TTY users, call 1-888-987-5832. Or visit our Find a Doctor page to search for a doctor in your area.

The team can also help you:

  • Learn about prenatal vitamins — like folic acid (a B vitamin) — and eating right. 
  • Get the dental care you need to help take care of your teeth and gums during pregnancy.
  • Connect to resources to help you have a safe pregnancy and a healthy baby.
  • Sign up for childbirth classes and other health education classes.

Here are some of the rewards available through the Bright Start program:*

  • $50 reward when you complete your postpartum follow-up. This visit must be one to 12 weeks (seven to 84 days) after the delivery date.
  • $25 reward for completing vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for children under age two. 
  • $25 reward when members up to two years old complete a lead screening.
  • $25 reward when female members ages 16-24 complete a test for chlamydia. 

*Reward applies to each completed screening. Certain restrictions apply. For more details or to find out about all available rewards for being in the program, please call the Bright Start team 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.

People who enroll in Bright Start can also get:

  • Reward dollars when you sign up for Keys to Your Care texting 
  • Reward dollars when you visit the dentist during your pregnancy
  • A breast pump at no cost
  • A pack of CutiesTM diapers
  • Blood pressure cuffs, beginning April 2, 2025

The Bright Start guide (PDF) is filled with important information for people who are pregnant and new parents. You can use this while working with your nurse or care coordinator to get all the help and support you need. The guide covers things like:

  • Your benefits and rewards
  • Warning signs that you need medical care right away
  • When to set up prenatal care visits 
  • Finding a provider that is right for you
  • What to expect during each stage of pregnancy
  • Vaccines (shots) to help protect you and your baby from illnesses like the flu and whooping cough
  • Tips to protect your physical and dental health during pregnancy
  • Getting ready for labor and delivery
  • Postpartum care and what to expect after delivery
  • Caring for your new baby

Download the Bright Start guide (PDF).

This is a text messaging program 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 messages cover things like:

  • How we can support you during your pregnancy
  • Prenatal visit reminders
  • Useful information for each stage of pregnancy
  • Tips for eating right and avoiding certain foods
  • Using your dental benefit during pregnancy
  • Getting no-cost rides to your health care visits
  • Joining a tobacco quit program if you smoke
  • Getting ready for your baby’s arrival
  • Labor signs and symptoms
  • What you need to know after your baby is born 

Text BCCMOM to 85866 to join the Keys to Your Care program. Or, call our Bright Start team 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.

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® 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.

Parent support groups
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.

Pregnancy+ app
Download the Pregnancy+ app to receive articles and health care 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.

Have you had your baby?

Important things to do before you leave the hospital:

  • Enroll your baby in the Blue Cross Complete health plan. You can call us at 1-800-228-8554 24 hours a day, seven days a week. TTY users, call 1-888-987-5832.
  • Contact your Medicaid caseworker to complete enrollment for your baby. 
  • Set up health care checks for your baby. 
    • Your baby should be seen by a health care provider three to five days after birth. The next health care check should be two to four weeks later. Check the Bright Start guide (PDF) to find out more about: 
      • Setting up provider visits for your baby
      • Keeping your baby’s vaccines (shots) up to date
      • Getting your baby tested for lead poisoning — even if your baby seems healthy.
  • Call Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) — the supplemental nutrition program — to let them know you had your baby and sign up for the program. WIC can also help with breastfeeding.
  • Set up a visit with your health care provider for your postpartum visit. It must be seven to 84 days after delivery to get the CARE Card rewards.

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 health care 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.

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

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 Plan 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.

Postpartum care

The time after you have your baby is called postpartum. Try to take it easy for the first few weeks after giving birth. You can get help from family and friends while caring for your baby. Before you leave the hospital, you should be given discharge instructions about health care for you and your baby.

Check out the Bright Start guide (PDF) to learn more about postpartum care, and how you can earn rewards.