Apply for health care

People over 65, people who are Blind or people who are disabled

For those with unique health care needs, Minnesota offers specialized coverage options through Medical Assistance, including Medicare Savings Programs. This includes people who are any of the following:

  • Age 65 or older
  • Blind or disabled (children included)
  • Need home and community-based services through a waiver program
  • Receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • Need help with Medicare costs
  • Age 21 or older, have no dependents and are enrolled in Medicare

Learn more about health care programs for:

People aged 65 or older Adults who have a disability or are Blind Children under 21 who have a disability or are Blind

Ways you can apply

You can choose one of these two ways to apply depending on what is easiest for you and your family.

Mail, fax or in person

Complete the MHCP Application for Certain Populations and send it to your local service agency by mail or fax or drop it off in person.

Download the application (PDF) Find your local agency

Over the phone

Call your local service agency and let them know you wish to complete an application over the phone.

Find your local service agency

Prepare to apply

When you apply for health coverage, you’ll need to provide some information about you and your household, including income, and some additional items. Use the list below to help you gather what you may need to apply.

Gather documents

Your worker will attempt to verify this information using our data sources, but if they are unable to verify any of these items, paper proof may be required:

  • Social Security number for each person applying  
  • Date of birth for everyone in household (not just those applying)  
  • Driver's license, Tribal ID or other ID  
  • For non-citizens, Green Card or other immigration documents 
  • Documents for sources of income for each person applying 
  • Documents for assets for each person applying
  • Certification of a disability through Social Security Administration or SMRT team for anyone applying (We can commonly get this ourselves)

Who to include

The following people should be included in your household when applying for coverage:

Note: Even if someone doesn’t need health coverage, they still include them if they fall into one of these groups.

Adults applying who are age 65 or older, Blind or disabled:

  • You
  • Your husband or wife
  • Your children under 19 who live with you
  • Your spouse’s children under 19 who live with you
  • Your partner (not married) if you have kids together
  • Anyone listed on your tax return, even if they don’t live with you
  • Any other kids under 19 who live with you, and you take care of

Children applying who are age 65 or older, Blind or disabled:

  • The child
  • The child’s parents (adoptive or stepparents included)
  • All siblings (half-siblings too) under 21 who live with the child
  • The child’s spouse
  • The child’s minor children

Who NOT to include

The following people should not be considered in your household when applying for coverage:

  • Emancipated minors
  • People not living with you in the home unless they are a person listed above
  • Unrelated people living in the home who are not a person listed above