When can my coverage start?

Depending on your circumstances, coverage may:

• Start on the first day of the month that your county, tribal or state servicing agency receives your application. If you recently moved to Minnesota, coverage can only start as early as the day you became a Minnesota resident.
• Go back up to three months before the month your county, tribal or state servicing agency receives your application. However, if you recently moved to Minnesota, coverage cannot go back earlier than the day you became a Minnesota resident.
• Continue the month after you age out of foster care, if you are already enrolled in Minnesota MA while in foster care.

How much does coverage cost?

There is no cost for coverage for youth who were in foster care on the day they turned age 18 and are still under age 26.

What is the income limit?

There is no income limit for youth who qualify for Medical Assistance based on aging out of foster care. If other people in your home are applying, we may need to ask for your income information to see if they qualify.

County and Tribal health care office directory

Health Care Consumer Support

Foster Youth Transitions Unit

If you have concerns that aren't being resolved, contact the Minnesota Office of the Foster Youth Ombudsperson

Can I qualify if I have savings, a retirement account or other assets?

Yes. There is no asset limit for youth who qualify for Medical Assistance based on aging out of foster care. Assets are items like cars, checking and savings accounts, your home and financial investments.

Can I qualify if I have other health insurance?

Yes. Tell us if you have other health insurance or could get coverage through an employer or military service. Sometimes we can pay the cost of the other insurance so you can keep that coverage.

Can I qualify if I left foster care before I aged out?

If foster care ended before you turned age 18, your time in foster care will not be used to decide whether you are eligible for Medical Assistance. You may still be eligible for Medical Assistance, but not because you were formerly in foster care. See “What if I do not qualify and still need coverage?” in the next section.

What if I do not qualify and still need coverage?

If you do not qualify for Medical Assistance as a former foster care youth, you may still qualify for other health care coverage or help paying costs, such as:

• Medical Assistance under a different eligibility group, such as Medical Assistance for people who are parents, people who are adults without children or people who are pregnant.
• MinnesotaCare
• A premium tax credit and cost-sharing reductions to help pay for private insurance through Minnesota's health insurance marketplace, MNsure.
  • The tax credit helps pay part or all of the health care premium.
  • Cost-sharing reductions are a form of financial help that help to reduce the out-of-pocket costs associated with private health insurance, such as deductibles, co-insurance and co-payments.

To see if you qualify for other health coverage or help paying costs, submit an application (see “How do I apply?”) or contact a MNsure navigator.

Will I be enrolled in a health plan?

After Medical Assistance is approved, you will be enrolled in a managed care health plan, unless you meet certain exceptions. The availability of managed care health plan choices depends on the county where you live, or which county the Tribal Nation shares geography with. If you move while enrolled in Medical Assistance, your managed care health plan choices may change.

• Check our FAQs about health plans and managed care for help with common questions.
• If you get care through a managed care health plan, find a primary care provider and see other health plan resources.
• Get details about how fee-for-service coverage works if you are not enrolled in a managed care health plan.

How do I get past bills paid?

If you received medical bills for a time period before you were enrolled in Medical Assistance, which your coverage has been backdated to include, contact the providers who the bills are from and ask them to re-bill Medical Assistance fee-for-service for these months.