Health Insurance for Low-Income
Medicaid and MinnesotaCare are Minnesota's largest healthcare programs and serve children and families, pregnant women, adults without children, seniors, and people who are blind or have a disability. Through the MA program, most people receive healthcare services through health plans. With the introduction of Obamacare (the Affordable Care Act), Minnesota opted to expand their Medicaid programs.
Minnesota Medicaid Plan Options
MinnesotaCare
MinnesotaCare is a healthcare program for Minnesotans with low-incomes. Recipients receive healthcare services through a health plan. You can choose your health plan from those serving MinnesotaCare in your county. MinnesotaCare is funded by a state tax on Minnesota hospitals and healthcare providers, Basic Health Program funding, enrollee premiums, and cost sharing.
Minnesota Program Options
Minnesota Family Planning Program (MFPP)
Minnesota Family Planning Program (MFPP) provides family planning services and related supplies for people who are not enrolled in MinnesotaCare, meet income restrictions, and are ages 15-50.
Breast and Cervical Cancer (MA-BC)
Women’s Cancer Screening Programing covers uninsured or underinsured women at specific income levels who need screenings for breast or cervical cancer. The program also provides diagnostic services and follow-up when an abnormality is found.
Medical Assistance for Children With Disabilities - TEFRA option
The TEFRA option provides Medical Assistance (MA) eligibility for children with disabilities that requires a high level of medical care whose parents income level prevents them from qualifying for Minnesota Healthcare Programs.
Medicare Savings Programs (MSP}
The purpose of Medicare Costing Savings programs is to assist individuals in paying their Medicare premiums and by making payments to medical providers for coinsurance and deductibles for Medicare services.
The Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program pays for Medicare Part B premiums, coinsurance, and deductibles for those eligible and enrolled in Medicare Part A.
The Specified Low Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) program provides payment of Medicare Part B premiums only for individuals who would be eligible for the QMB program, except for excess income.
The Qualified Individual (QI-1) program provides payment of Medicare Part B premiums only for individuals who would be eligible for the SLMB program, except for excess income.
The Qualified Disabled Working Individual (QDWI) program provides payment of Medicare Part A premiums only for individuals meeting income limits.
Home and Community-based Services Waiver Programs
Minnesota Long Term Services and Supports provides opportunities for children, older adults or the disabled to continue participating in their community activities. Services range depending on the situation, but the goal is to improve the qualify of life of the entire family.
Minnesota Senior Health Options (MSHO)
Minnesota Senior Health Options (MSHO) combines separate benefits such as Medicare and MA care programs and support systems into one package. MSHO members are assigned a care coordinator who will assist them in getting their healthcare and related support services. MSHO is administered by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) and seven health plans.
Minnesota Medicaid FAQs
- What is Medicaid?
Medicaid is a state funded insurance that that provides coverage to low income families, pregnant women, newborns, and children that may not be able to afford to purchase their own care.
- Who is eligible for Medicaid?
Minnesota Medicaid covers the following groups of individuals:
- Children 0 - 12 months with household income less than 283% of the Federal Poverty Line (FPL);
- Children 1 - 18 years with household income less than 275% of the FPL;
- Pregnant women with household income less than 278% of the FPL;
- Adults with household income less than 138% of the FPL;
- Adults between 138% - 200% of the FPL qualify for MNCare.
- How do I find out if I am eligible for Medicaid?
To find out if you are eligible for Medicaid, you must fill out an application for Medicaid or CHIP. You may fill out an application at any time of the year. See more on Medicaid.
- Will Medicaid cover my children?
Your household income level will determine if your child or children can be covered by Medicaid.
- What is CHIP?
CHIP is a program that supports children in families that cannot afford private health insurance, but whose household income is too high to qualify for Medicaid.
- Does Medicaid satisfy the health insurance requirement?
Yes, Medicaid will satisfy the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) health insurance requirement for the covered individuals.
- What information and documents should I have when I'm signing up for Medicaid?
Depending on the Medicaid program being applied for, you will need the following: Identity, Social Security, proof you live in Minnesota, proof of income, proof of medical costs, and bank account information.
- How does Obamacare work with Medicaid?
Because of Minnesota's Medicaid eligibility requirements, Obamacare does not impact people who qualify for Medicaid and vice versa. As such, tax credits are only available for people who are not eligible for other plans.
- What is MinnesotaCare?
MinnesotaCare is the Medicaid option for offered through managed care programs. This is the program that provides the majority of the coverage for Minnesota residents that qualify for Medicaid.
