Fee-for-service coverage

We will send you a Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) ID card in the mail. Always carry it with you. Show your MHCP member ID card and all other types of health care cards (Medicare, private health insurance through an employer, etc.) to all health care providers. 

To request a new MHCP ID card, call either:

• For a household with Medical Assistance or with both Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare, contact your local county or tribal office.
• For a household with only MinnesotaCare, contact DHS Health Care Consumer Support (HCCS) help desk.

Find examples of MHCP member ID cards.

Covered services

Review the MA two-page overview (DHS-8573) (PDF) to understand services you may be able to get. You can also review coverage for the following:

• Non-emergency medical transportation (DHS-8573A) (PDF)
• Dental services (DHS-8573B) (PDF)
• MinnesotaCare (DHS-8573C) (PDF)

MA and MinnesotaCare covers health care services and items that are medically necessary. Some services and items may require an authorization. You may have to pay a portion of the cost of some services.

For more information about your MA or MinnesotaCare coverage benefits and costs see the MHCP Summary of Coverage, Cost Sharing and Limits (DHS-3860) (PDF).

For more information on health care services:

• For a household with members on Medical Assistance or with both Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare, contact your county or tribal servicing agency.
• For a household with only MinnesotaCare, call DHS Health Care Consumer Support (HCCS).

Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) (or in-network) providers

MA and MinnesotaCare enrolls clinics, hospitals, pharmacies, doctors, dentists and many other health professionals. You must get care only from these MHCP-enrolled providers. We do not pay for services from providers who are not enrolled with MHCP.

There is limited coverage for services outside of Minnesota. You need to confirm with your out-of-state provider that they are enrolled with MHCP. Also, we do not enroll providers located out of the United States. More details about coverage and limits are in the next section.

When you show the provider your MHCP member ID card and the provider gives you services, the provider sends the bill to us for payment. We will send you a letter (called explanation of benefits) to show what the provider billed and any amount you are responsible to pay for your services. 

Find MHCP providers

Use the online MHCP Provider Directory to locate doctors and other health care providers.

If you need help finding a provider, contact DHS Health Care Consumer Support.

To make an appointment:

1. Call the clinic ahead of time.
2. Make a separate appointment for each person.
3. Tell your clinic that you are an MA or MinnesotaCare member.
4. Tell your clinic if you have any other insurance.
5. Write down the appointment date and time. Always call the clinic if you have to cancel (cannot get to the appointment).
6. Request interpreter assistance if needed.

MA may be able help pay for transportation and related travel expenses. Learn more about transportation (DHS-8573A) (PDF) options. 

Note: Members on MinnesotaCare are not eligible for transportation services

It is important to understand the information your doctor gives you. If you do not speak the same language as your doctor, your clinic must provide a person to explain the information the doctor tells you in the language you speak. This person is called an interpreter.

To request an interpreter

Tell the provider that you will need an interpreter for the appointment. Be sure you give the provider a reasonable amount of time to arrange for an interpreter.

All providers are required to provide language interpreter services for all patients who are deaf or hard of hearing or have limited English proficiency. Providers are responsible for arranging the interpreter service and paying the interpreter. They may bill the state for the interpreter's services. Sign language interpreter services may be provided using a video relay. International language interpreter services may be provided over the phone.

Complaints about interpreter services

Hospital and clinics hire their own interpreters. If you have a concern or complaint about an interpreter, report it to the provider, clinic or hospital. Talk to the patient representative, the clinic director or hospital manager.

If you need more help with the concern or to file a complaint, contact Speech-Language Pathologist and Audiologist Complaint Process - MN Dept. of Health.

You may receive a bill if MA or MinnesotaCare does not cover the service you received. 

Providers may bill you for services that are not covered by MA or MinnesotaCare. They must first tell you that the service is not covered. They must have you sign one of these forms before providing the service:

• Advance Recipient Notice of Non-covered Service/Item (DHS-3640) (PDF)
• Advance Recipient Notice of Non-covered Prescription (DHS-3641) (PDF)

You can request coverage to begin up to three months before you apply for health care. This is often referred to as retroactive coverage. If retroactive coverage is approved, MA may pay for health care you received as much as three months before you applied. Providers are not required to bill MA retroactively.

If retroactive coverage is approved, ask your provider to bill us (instead of you) for health care you received before you were enrolled in MA:

1. Contact the provider
2. Give them your MHCP member ID number
3. Ask them to bill fee-for-service

Note: MinnesotaCare members are not eligible for retroactive coverage.

If you have questions about MA retroactive coverage or services that MHCP does not pay for, you can call:

• For a household with Medical Assistance or with both Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare, contact your county and tribal offices.
• For a household with only MinnesotaCare, contact DHS Health Care Consumer Support.