How to Apply for Medical Assistance in Hennepin County

If you’re a Hennepin County resident and need help paying for medical care, you may be eligible for medical assistance Here’s how to apply.

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Introduction

Hennepin County offers a variety of Medical Assistance programs to help residents who are unable to pay for health care This guide provides information on how to apply for these programs.

What is Medical Assistance?

Medical Assistance is a health care program for low-income adults and children in Minnesota. It is also known as Minnesota Care or Medicaid in other states. If you qualify, Medical Assistance will help pay for some or all of your health care costs.

Who is eligible for Medical Assistance?

In order to be eligible for Medical Assistance (MA), also known as Medicaid, you must meet certain income and asset requirements.

MA is a joint federal and state program that helps with medical costs for some people with limited income and resources. MNsure is the only place you can apply for MA in Minnesota.

If you are eligible for MA, you may get help paying for:
-Doctor visits
-Prescriptions
-Hospitalizations
-Certain preventive services
-Behavioral health services and addiction treatment
-Long-term care

MinnesotaCare is a public health care coverage program for Minnesotans with low to moderate incomes who do not have access to affordable health insurance through their jobs, Medicare or other public programs.

How to apply for Medical Assistance

If you live in Hennepin County, you may be able to get help with the cost of your medical care through Medical Assistance (MA). This program, also called MinnesotaCare, is for people with low incomes who do not have other health insurance You may be able to get help even if you have a job.

To find out if you qualify for MA, you will need to fill out an application and provide some information about your income and assets. You can apply online, by mail, or in person at your local county office.

Once you have submitted your application, a county worker will review it and make a decision about whether or not you are eligible for MA. If you are approved for MA, you will be asked to choose a primary care provider from a list of participating providers. You will then be able to use your MA card to get medical care from this provider.

Where to apply for Medical Assistance

There are three ways that you can apply for Medical Assistance in Hennepin County. You can apply online, over the phone, or in person.

If you apply online, you can do so through the county’s website. You will need to create an account and provide some basic information about yourself and your family. Once you have done this, you will be able to fill out the application and submit it electronically.

If you would prefer to apply over the phone, you can call the county’s medical assistance office at (651) 266-1300. You will need to provide some basic information about yourself and your family, and a representative will help you complete the application.

Lastly, you can apply in person at the medical assistance office. You will need to bring proof of identity and residency, as well as proof of income and assets. You will also need to fill out an application form.

What documents are required for Medical Assistance?

To apply for Medical Assistance (MA), you will need to complete an eligibility form and turn in required documents. The required documents may vary depending on your individual situation.

For example, if you are pregnant, you will need to provide proof of pregnancy. If you are disabled, you will need to provide proof of disability. If you are a resident of Hennepin County, you will need to provide proof of residency.

The following is a list of common documents that may be required for MA:
-Proof of identity (e.g., driver’s license, state ID card, passport)
-Proof of residency (e.g., utility bill, lease agreement)
-Social Security numbers for all members of your household
-Income verification (e.g., pay stubs, tax return)
-Asset verification (e.g., bank statements, property deeds)

How is the application processed?

After you have applied for medical assistance, your application will be reviewed to see if you appear to be eligible. This review is called a screening. If it is determined that you do not appear to be eligible, your application will be denied and you will receive a written notice of the denial. If you do appear to be eligible, your name will be added to a waiting list if one exists for the type of service for which you have applied.

What are the income guidelines for Medical Assistance?

In order to qualify for Medical Assistance (MA), also known as MinnesotaCare, your monthly income must be at or below 138% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG). For a single person, that is $1,386/month or $16,632 annually. For a family of two, the monthly income limit is $1,872 or $22,464 annually. Each additional family member increases the income limit by $486/month or $5,856 annually.

What are the asset guidelines for Medical Assistance?

Asset guidelines are the same for MNsure and Medical Assistance. The value of an applicant’s home is not counted if:
• The applicant or spouse is age 65 or older, or
• A person with a disability as defined by Social Security lives in the home, or
• The home is being used to provide care to a child under age 21 who lives with the applicant, or
• The home is being used to provide care to an adult relative who lives with the applicant.

All other assets are counted when determining if an individual is eligible for Medical Assistance.

How often do I need to renew my Medical Assistance?

You need to renew your Medical Assistance every 12 months. You will get a renewal form in the mail about one month before your benefits are set to expire.