Health care coverage for people who are noncitizens

If you are not a U.S. citizen, you may be eligible for full public health care coverage, benefits during and after pregnancy or help in an emergency. You may also get a refugee health screening or help navigating the health care system. Call the Refugee and Immigrant Helpline at 1-800-814-4806 to talk to someone in your language about what’s available.

If you are applying for health care coverage, you may have to provide proof of your immigration status if you have one.

You do not have to tell us about your immigration status or give us proof if you are:

• Applying for your children or other family members but not yourself. We may need proof of status for the people who are applying.
• Only helping someone else apply.

There is health care coverage available to Minnesota residents who do not have immigration status and who meet other program requirements.

Immigration status does not matter for people who are pregnant and do not meet the immigration status requirements for the Medical Assistance (MA) program. If a pregnant person qualifies, MA helps pay for health care expenses like preventative care, prescription drugs and other health services, not just services related to pregnancy.

Immigration status does not matter for people who need Emergency Medical Assistance (EMA). EMA covers emergency medical conditions for people who do not qualify for the MA program due to immigration status. EMA covers hospital and emergency department care for a medical emergency. It may include doctor visits, prescriptions, mental health care and other needed services related to the emergency medical condition with approval from the medical reviewer. Your doctor will need to provide documentation about your emergency medical condition to get coverage after hospitalization. 

Different programs have different income limits, and income limits can be different for adults and children. The income limit and whose income is counted depend on your age, family size, pregnancy or disability status and whether you have a sponsor.

You may or may not have an asset limit. Assets are things you own like cars, bank accounts, and financial investments.

To qualify for Medical Assistance, some people must not own assets worth more than a certain dollar amount. The home you live in and a car are usually not counted toward the asset limit. People age 65 and older, people who have a disability and people who are blind have an asset limit. Children, pregnant people and most adults under 65 do not have an asset limit.

There is no asset limit for MinnesotaCare. 

It depends on the program.

If you are a lawful permanent resident (LPR) and had a financial sponsor when you applied for LPR status, we may need to count that sponsor’s income and assets for Medical Assistance. If the sponsor is married, we may also need to count the spouse's income and assets.

Sponsor’s income and assets do not count for MinnesotaCare.

You may have to pay a monthly premium if you are eligible for MinnesotaCare. The amount, if any, depends on your income and family size. Adults also may have copays for some services. Children and pregnant people do not pay premiums or copays.

The date coverage starts depends on which program you qualify for, and whether you must pay a premium to start coverage.

You may still qualify. You must 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.

Some people who do not qualify for MA, MinnesotaCare or EMA may qualify for an advanced premium tax credit through Minnesota's health insurance marketplace, MNsure. A tax credit helps pay part or all of the health care premium for a health plan on MNsure. Even if you do not qualify for a tax credit, you can compare options and buy affordable insurance. You cannot be denied coverage even if you have a pre-existing condition. Check the MNsure website for their requirements. 

• County and tribal offices
• Department of Human Services (DHS) Health Care Consumer Support 

You can get free help learning about or applying for health care from a navigator. You can find a navigator in your area who speaks your preferred language through the Assister Directory on the MNsure website.