How to Qualify for Medical Assistance in Minnesota

You may qualify for free or low-cost health care coverage through Minnesota’s medical assistance (MA) program. To see if you qualify, follow these steps.

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Introduction

Medical assistance, also known as Medicaid, is a government program that provides health care coverage to low-income individuals and families. In order to qualify for Medical Assistance in Minnesota, you must meet certain eligibility requirements.

To be eligible for Medical Assistance you must:
-Be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident
-Have a Social Security number
-Be a resident of Minnesota
-Meet income guidelines (your income must be below a certain level in order to qualify)
-Be pregnant, have children under the age of 21, be blind, have a disability, or be 65 years of age or older

What is Medical Assistance?

Medical Assistance (MA) is Minnesota’s Medicaid program. This means that if you qualify for MA, the state will help you pay for some or all of your medical and long-term care costs. MA is available to people of all ages, but there are special rules for seniors (age 65 and over) and people with disabilities.

Who is eligible for Medical Assistance?

In order to be eligible for Medical assistance an individual must:
-Be a resident of the state of Minnesota
-Be a U.S. citizen or legal immigrant
-Have a social security number
-Have an annual income below a certain level (this changes annually)

How do I apply for Medical Assistance?

In order to apply for Medical Assistance you will need to fill out an application and submit it to your county or tribal office. You can find the application online or at your local office.

How do I know if I am eligible for Medical Assistance?

In Minnesota, Medical Assistance (MA) provides health care coverage for certain low- and moderate-income adults and children, pregnant women, senior citizens, and people with disabilities. There are many different MA programs, each with its own eligibility requirements.

To see if you are eligible for MA, you can use the MNsure Eligibility Tool. This tool will ask you some questions about your household size and income. Once you have finished the questionnaire, the tool will tell you which MA programs you may be eligible for.

If you are not sure if you are eligible for MA or have any other questions about the program, you can contact your county or tribal human services office.

What are the income guidelines for Medical Assistance?

Medical Assistance (MA), also known as MinnesotaCare, is a health care program for low-income adults and children. In order to qualify for MA, you must meet certain income guidelines.

Income Guidelines for Medical Assistance
To be eligible for Medical Assistance, your income must not exceed 133% of the federal poverty level (FPL). The following table shows the income guidelines for Medical Assistance in Minnesota.

Number of People in Your Household Monthly Income Limit (133% FPL)
1 $1,354
2 $1,832
3 $2,311
4 $2,790
5 $3,269
6 $3,748
7 $4,227
8 $4,706

What assets are considered when determining eligibility for Medical Assistance?

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) uses an asset test to help determine whether an individual is eligible for Medical Assistance (MA). An individual’s home, personal possessions, cash, savings, and other property may all be considered assets.

To be eligible for MA, an individual’s countable assets must not exceed $3,000 for an individual or $6,000 for a couple. Some assets are not counted when determining eligibility for MA. These include:
-The applicant’s primary residence
-One automobile
-burial plots
-prepaid funeral and burial contracts
-certain retirement accounts
-certain educational trusts
-certain life insurance policies

How often do I need to renew my Medical Assistance eligibility?

You must renew your eligibility for Medical Assistance (MA) every year. The specific renewal process may vary slightly depending on the county you live in, but in general, you will need to fill out a renewal form and provide proof of your income and any other required information.

If you have questions about the renewal process or whether you still qualify for MA, you can contact your local county office or the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

What changes in my circumstances do I need to report to the Medical Assistance office?

You must report any changes in your circumstances to the Medical Assistance office. This includes, but is not limited to, changes in:
-Your income
-Your family size
-Your address, phone number, or email address
-Your job
-Your health insurance coverage
If you do not report a change, you may:
-Lose your coverage
-Have to pay back money you received

What if I am no longer eligible for Medical Assistance?

If you are no longer eligible for Medical Assistance, you may be able to get help from another program.

Programs that might help include:
· MinnesotaCare
· Medicare
· A Health Care Savings Plan