Bridge to Benefits
MinnesotaCare
July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008
  1. What is MinnesotaCare?
  2. Who can get MinnesotaCare?
  3. How does MinnesotaCare work?
  4. How do I get an application for MinnesotaCare?
  5. What is the application like?
  6. Do I have to go in person to apply?
  7. Where is the MinnesotaCare office?
  8. How soon will I be able to get on the program?
  9. What do I have to do to stay on the program?
  10. How often do I need to renew coverage for MinnesotaCare?
  11. Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to get MinnesotaCare?
  12. Does if matter how long I have lived in Minnesota?
  13. Will MinnesotaCare pay medical bills for services before I got on MinnesotaCare?
  14. What is a premium?
  15. How much are the MinnesotaCare monthly premium payments?
  16. How do I pay my premiums?
  17. What will happen if I do not pay my premium?
  18. What are assets? What are the asset limits for MinnesotaCare?
  19. What if I am self-employed? What is counted as an asset?
  20. What is a co-payment (co-pay)?
  21. Are there co-payments (co-pays)?
  22. What services are covered by MinnesotaCare?
  23. Does everyone in my family have to sign up for MinnesotaCare?
  24. Do I have to cooperate with the child support office to get MinnesotaCare?

1. What is MinnesotaCare?
MinnesotaCare is a health insurance program for Minnesotans with lower incomes who cannot get affordable insurance through their job or somewhere else. It is not a free program. People who get MinnesotaCare pay a reduced-cost premium every month. The amount you pay depends on the number of people in your family, the number of people who are getting health insurance (coverage), and your income.

MinnesotaCare is administered by the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

2. Who can get MinnesotaCare?
Children, families, pregnant women, and adults without children can all get MinnesotaCare. You have to live in Minnesota and have a Social Security Number. You also have to have income and assets below the limits. You cannot get MinnesotaCare if you have had health insurance during the last four months unless the insurance was Medical Assistance. (After four months without insurance, then you could get MinnesotaCare). You cannot get MinnesotaCare if your job offers insurance and your employer pays 50% or more of the premium (amount due every month). But some children can get MinnesotaCare even if they have had insurance in the past 4 months or if their parent’s employer offers insurance. Also, if your employer pays 50% or more of your premium, but not 50% or more of the premium for your spouse or children, then they can get MinnesotaCare, but you cannot.

3. How does MinnesotaCare work?
Once you have been accepted for MinnesotaCare, you have to pick a managed care health plan (like Medica, BlueCross/BlueShield or HealthPartners). You will get one card that says “Minnesota’s Health Care Programs” and another card from your health plan. You need to bring both cards when you go to the doctor, pharmacy or get any health service. You also have to pay your first premium before you can get medical services. Your health insurance (coverage) will start the first day of the month after you pay your first premium.

4. How do I get an application for MinnesotaCare?
The application is called the Minnesota Health Care Programs Application. You can get one at your county human services office. You can also get one mailed to your home if you call 1-800-657-3672 or 651-297-3862 (in the Twin Cities). (TTY service: 1-800-627-3529 or 711). You can also get an application on this website by clicking here.

5. What is the application like?
The application is 24 pages long, plus instructions. It is available in English, Spanish, Hmong, Somali, Khmer (Cambodian), Lao, Vietnamese, Arabic, Oromo, Serbo-Croatian (Bosnian) and Russian. The application will ask you about everyone who lives with you, how much money they make and what they own (assets). You will also have to provide copies of “documents of proof” that show your income (such as pay stubs or tax returns) and assets. You can complete the application yourself or you can get help filling it out from a county worker or other organizations. You can use the Program Directory on this website to find places that help in your county.

6. Do I have to go in person to apply?
No. You can apply for MinnesotaCare by sending your application and copies of your documents of proof in the mail. (Do not send the original documents, because they could get lost.) You can mail or bring them to the MinnesotaCare office in St. Paul. Some county human service offices will take MinnesotaCare applications, but not all of them. It is best to send or bring your application to the St. Paul office so you can find out as soon as possible if you can get MinnesotaCare.

7. Where is the MinnesotaCare office?
It is located in the Elmer L. Andersen Building in downtown St. Paul at 540 Cedar Street - 1st floor - St. Paul, MN. This is at the intersection of Cedar Street and 10th Street East. This office is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Click here for a map and directions.

If you are mailing your completed MinnesotaCare application, send it to:
MinnesotaCare
P. O. Box 64838
St. Paul, MN 55164-0838

8. How soon will I be able to get on the program?
After you send in your application and copies of your documents of proof, it usually takes about 1-2 months before you can get on the program. You will get a letter in the mail telling you if you are enrolled in MinnesotaCare (you have been accepted). After you have paid your first premium, your coverage (insurance) will start the first day of the next month.

9. What do I have to do to stay on the program?
You have to pay your premium every month. You also must tell a MinnesotaCare worker about any changes in your household within 10 days of them happening. Things you must report include births, deaths, moving, income or job changes, and people moving in or out of your household. You also have to always renew your coverage (tell them some information about you to make sure that you can still get MinnesotaCare) when they send you a letter in the mail.

10. How often do I need to renew coverage for MinnesotaCare?
Every 12 months. You will get a “Renewal Form” in the mail that asks you questions. Fill it out, sign your name, and mail it back right away so that you can keep getting your health insurance. If you move, be sure to let your MinnesotaCare worker know your new address so that you will get this letter.

11. Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to get MinnesotaCare?
No, but you need a Social Security Number to get MinnesotaCare. A Social Security Number is required for all adults and children applying (or proof of application if the number is pending). You do not need to provide copies of Social Security cards. Parents without acceptable immigration status can apply for their children as long as the children are U.S. citizens or have acceptable immigration status. Also, if only some people in your household have a Social Security Number, you can apply just for them. You may be asked to provide copies of your immigration documents if you are not a U.S. citizen.

12. Does if matter how long I have lived in Minnesota?
If you do not have children in your household, you must have lived in Minnesota for 6 months to get MinnesotaCare. For families with children in the household, you just have to plan to stay in Minnesota to get MinnesotaCare. It doesn’t matter how long you have lived in this state.

13. Will MinnesotaCare pay medical bills for services before I got on MinnesotaCare?
No. It will not pay for any past medical bills.

14. What is a premium?
It is the amount of money you must pay every month to start and to keep your health insurance coverage.

15. How much are the MinnesotaCare monthly premium payments?
It depends on your household size and income. You will not know your premium until a worker looks at your application. Some children can have premiums for only $4 each month.  The average monthly premium for an adult in 2004 was $22 each month.

16. How do I pay my premiums?
Each month you will receive a bill by mail. You can pay at the MinnesotaCare office in St. Paul, by mail with a check or money order, or you can pay online with a check or credit card. You cannot pay at your county human services office.

Bring your MinnesotaCare payment to:
The Elmer L. Andersen Building in downtown St. Paul at 540 Cedar Street - 1st floor - St. Paul, MN. This is at the intersection of Cedar Street and 10th Street East. This office is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Click here for a map and directions.

Mail your MinnesotaCare payments to:
Cashier, MinnesotaCare
P.O. Box 64834
Saint Paul, MN 55164-0834

Pay your premium online at the Minnesota Department of Human Services website.

17. What will happen if I do not pay my premium?
If you do not pay your premium, your MinnesotaCare will be cancelled.

18. What are assets? What are the asset limits for MinnesotaCare?
Assets include money in a bank account or other things of value that you or your family own. MinnesotaCare will count up some of your assets to see if you are over the limit. There is no asset limit for pregnant women and children under 21. For all others, the asset limit is $10,000 for a family of one and $20,000 for a family of two or more. The most commonly counted assets include:
• Cash
• Savings accounts
• Checking accounts
• Certificates of deposit
• Stocks and bonds
• Motor vehicles not used for employment purposes
• Recreational vehicles such as 4-wheelers, snowmobiles, boats/motors/trailers and campers
• Land or houses you do not live on or in
• Amount of capital and operating assets of a trade or business that exceed $200,000

Assets that are not counted include:
• The home you live in
• Household and personal goods such as clothing, jewelry, furniture, appliance and tools and equipment used in the home
• Motor vehicles used for employment purposes
• Individually owned pension and retirement funds
• There may be other assets that your family owns that may be counted or excluded

19. What if I am self-employed? What is counted as an asset?
If you are self-employed, the first $200,000 of capital and operating assets for your business are not counted.

20. What is a co-payment (co-pay)?
It is a small amount you have to pay when you get a service (see a doctor, get eyeglasses, etc.).

21. Are there co-payments (co-pays)?
Yes, for some services. Children under age 21 and pregnant women do not have co-pays. Click here for a basic list of covered services and co-pays for all MinnesotaCare enrollees.

22. What services are covered by MinnesotaCare?
MinnesotaCare covers more services for pregnant women and people who have children under 21 living in their household. The co-payments are also different. Click here for a basic list of covered services and co-pays for all MinnesotaCare enrollees.

23. Does everyone in my family have to sign up for MinnesotaCare?
No, you can sign up just some people in your family, but there are some rules. If you have more than one child who is uninsured and eligible for MinnesotaCare, you have to enroll all of your eligible children in MinnesotaCare. And if you have more than one parent in your household who is uninsured and eligible for MinnesotaCare, you have to enroll both parents. Also, you cannot enroll parents if you do not enroll your eligible children. But you can enroll your children, even if you do not enroll any parents.

24. Do I have to cooperate with the child support office to get MinnesotaCare?
For most people, yes. If you do not cooperate, you will not be able to get MinnesotaCare. But your children can get MinnesotaCare even if you do not cooperate with the child support office. However, if you have a good reason for not wanting to cooperate (for example, if you fear physical or emotional harm to you or your child), you may not have to cooperate. If this applies to you, you have to tell your worker that you want to claim “good cause.” You will have to fill out a form to explain your situation.