Almost everyone should be able to get health coverage. The question is, which plan is right for you and your family?
This page looks at whether you might qualify for MinnesotaCare. If you do, it is probably your best choice. You can see if you qualify for MinnesotaCare at MNsure.
If you don’t qualify for MinnesotaCare, consider other options, including Medical Assistance (MA) and private health insurance from your employer or through MNsure.
Different rules for people with disabilitiesIf you have been determined disabled by the Social Security Administration (SSA) or the State Medical Review Team (SMRT), you might qualify for MA instead of MinnesotaCare. Read DB101’s disability-based MA article and Chat with a Hub expert or visit your local county or tribal human services office.
To qualify for MinnesotaCare, you usually must meet several basic requirements:
MinnesotaCare is meant for people who do not have other affordable coverage options. That means that if you could get Medicare, Medical Assistance (MA), or affordable employer-sponsored coverage, you cannot get MinnesotaCare. This is especially important for people with disabilities, because people with disabilities are more likely to qualify for MA. If you have a disability, read DB101’s disability-based MA article.
If you do not have one of these other options, keep reading this article.
You must be a U.S. citizen or have a legal immigration status to get MinnesotaCare.
Note: Some immigrants who do not qualify for MA may qualify to get MinnesotaCare instead.
Beatriz is married and she and her husband John have a combined income of $20,000 per year. Their income is less than 138% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG), so John can go to MNsure and sign up for income-based MA coverage. Beatriz can’t because she has been a legal resident in the United States for just 2 years. Instead, she signs up for MinnesotaCare with a monthly premium of $0.
If you are a citizen or have a legal immigration status, continue reading this article.
MinnesotaCare is for families with income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) ($29,160 per year for an individual; $60,000 for a family of four), but above 138% of FPG ($20,783 for an individual; $43,056 for a family of four).
MinnesotaCare counts most types of earned and unearned income you have. However, some income is not counted, including Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits and some contributions to retirement accounts. Learn more about what types of income affect MinnesotaCare eligibility.
Note: If you are a legal immigrant who cannot get Medical Assistance (MA) because of your immigration status, you may be eligible for MinnesotaCare even if your income is below 138% of FPG.
There are no limits to how much money or other assets you can have for this type of MA.
If you cannot get MinnesotaCare because your income is too high, consider buying an individual plan through MNsure. See DB101’s Buying Health Coverage on MNsure article.
Health Coverage Income Limits for Your Family Income limits for your family:If your family's income is at or below the limit for a program, you may qualify if you meet other program rules.