Benefits Guide
Medical Assistance (MA)
Medical Assistance (MA) is a health care program for individuals under the age of 21, adults with children, pregnant women, disabled persons, and low–income single adults. MA pays all or most of an individual's medical bills. It covers routine checkups, prenatal care and delivery, hospital and doctor care, prescriptions, dental care, chemical dependency treatment and mental health care. Adults may have some copays for some services, but there are no copays for children. MA will pay up to three months worth of past medical bills for eligible individuals.
Eligibility
Individuals under the age of 21, adults with children, pregnant women, disabled persons, and low-income single adults may be eligible for MA. Eligibility is based on income, family size, children's ages and whether a person is blind or disabled. Eligibility guidelines differ based on the category of eligibility. Please see the following PDF for information on income and asset guidelines.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or have acceptable immigration status. People without immigration documentation are not eligible for MA. However, pregnant women are exempt from this requirement and can receive MA if they are undocumented. Care for an undocumented pregnant woman will continue up to 60 days after delivery. Her infant may continue to get medical care through MA.
Families with children can have assets of up to $20,000. Low–income single adults and children do not have an asset guideline. Elderly, blind and disabled people have an asset limit of $3,000. Homes and cars used to get to and from work are not included in the asset limit.
If you are a senior or disabled and earn over $908 a month or have over $3,000 in assets ($6,000 if married), then you are not eligible for MA but may qualify for MA with a "spenddown." A spenddown is like an insurance deductible. If you qualify for MA with a spenddown, you pay part of your medical expenses and MA pays the rest. Once your spenddown has been "met," MA can pay the rest of eligible medical expenses.
Here's an example: Joe is blind, 65 years old or older or disabled. Joe earns $1,000 per month.
Joe's spenddown: $1,000 – $681 = $319/month
Each month, Joe will pay the first $319 in medical expenses and MA will pick up medical expenses above $319.
In order to be considered disabled for the purposes of receiving MA, you must be certified as disabled. You are certified disabled if you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). If you do not receive these benefits but believe you are disabled, contact your county human services agency, and they can ask the State Medical Review Team to assess your disability.
How to Apply
MA is administered by county human services offices. Individuals can apply in person at the nearest County Human Services Department, download and print applications from the Minnesota Department of Human Services website or request an application from the Minnesota Department of Human Services at:
Health Care Eligibility and Access
PO Box 64989
St. Paul, MN 55164–0989
Phone: 651–431–2283 or 888–938–3224
Fax: 651–431–7423
MA enrollees must reapply every six months and must report changes in income or household composition as they occur.
More Information
For more information on Medical Assistance, visit the Minnesota Department of Human Services website.
