What is Medical Assistance (MA)?
Medical Assistance is Minnesota’s Medicaid state insurance program. This health insurance can cover important care for your pregnancy, birth, and care for the year after birth.
If you do not have insurance, you may qualify if you are pregnant.
How do I apply for MA?
- Apply online through https://www.mnsure.org/ or fill out and return the paper application (DHS-6696).
- Apply as early as possible in your pregnancy but you can apply at any time.
- Unborn children count in your family size. (If you are expecting one baby, you count as two people.)
- State insurance may cover past medical bills. Even if you have coverage through your job, you may still be eligible for state insurance.
You can find out more about the type of services you may be covered for under Medicaid here.
Get free help applying
- Visit mnsure.org or call MNsure at 651-539-2099 or 855-366-7873 (outside the Minneapolis and St. Paul area).
- You can get help from a navigator in your area. For a list of navigators, go to the MNsure website or call 855-366-7873.
Child and Teen Checkups (C&TC)
MA coverage for your baby starts at birth. This benefit is called Child and Teen Checkups (C&TC) and includes well care, immunizations, milestone checks and more.
Find the care you need
- Help Me Connect | Pregnant and Expectant Families – Connect to care, mental health, financial, and parenting/family resources across Minnesota.
- Find MN Doulas and Birth Workers – Find a doula, midwife, or other type of birth worker across Minnesota.
- Pregnancy & Postpartum Support Minnesota (PSI-MN) – Call or text 1-800-944-4773 (Text en Espanol: 971-203-7773). Volunteers return messages during business hours. They will listen, answer questions, offer encouragement and connect you with local resources as needed.
- Dental Services – See basic dental services MA covers.
You may qualify for health care services at home
Talk to your health care provider about services you may be eligible for in your home. These may include covered services during pregnancy and after birth like ultrasounds, prenatal visits, and baby care at home, home visiting for you and your baby, and telehealth visits. You may be eligible for home birth and other care at home too.
Learn more:
Food and cash assistance
- Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) – Find nutrition, food, and breastfeeding support.
- Individuals and Families | Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families – Support like food assistance, cash assistance, housing support, child care, emergency assistance, and Early Learning Scholarships.
Know your patient rights
- If you have experienced discrimination, you can report it.
- If you were denied a health care service, you can appeal it.
- Know your rights and responsibilities.
- Learn about protection and privacy of your health care information.
- Get information on other organizations for your health and wellbeing.
- Read more about what medical information may be shared at a federal level.
- Learn about your immigration rights.