Apply for health care

Former foster care youth

Medical Assistance provides health insurance coverage to youth who meet all the following:

  • Aged out of foster care in any state, District of Columbia, or United States territory at age 18 or older
  • Were on Minnesota Medical Assistance or another state’s Medicaid program when they aged out of foster care
  • Are currently under age 26
Learn more about Medical Assistance

Ways you can apply

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

If you have an Extended Foster Care caseworker or a STAY (Successful Transition to Adulthood for Youth) worker, you can ask for their help no matter which of these application options you choose.

Apply online [Link to METS login page] Contact your local county or Tribe

With a MNsure navigator

Call or email a MNsure navigator to get started. MNsure navigators are trained experts who help with health insurance applications and are specifically trained to help former foster care youth complete the application process efficiently and accurately the first time. Their services are free and available by phone or in person.

Find a navigator

Online

Create an account if you don’t already have one. Once you sign in, select the Apply button under Apply for Health Coverage WITH Financial Help on the home screen. Complete the online application.

After submitting your application, contact a health care worker at the county or Tribe where you live. Tell them you’ve submitted an online application for Medical Assistance, and you want to make sure they know you were in foster care in Minnesota or another state.

If you need assistance creating or signing into your account, call MNsure at 651-539-2099 (855-366-7873 outside the Twin Cities).

Apply online [Link to METS login page] Find your local county or Tribal office

Mail, fax or in person

Fill out the Application for Health Coverage and Help Paying Costs. If you were in foster care and enrolled in Medical Assistance or Medicaid in any state, United States territory, or the District of Columbia at age 18 or older, answer “Yes” in Step 4, question 7. Then write your name, and the state where you were in foster care on the day your foster care ended at age 18 or older. If you have questions, you can contact a health care worker at the county or Tribe's health care office where you currently live.

Download the application (PDF) Contact your local county or Tribe