Minnesota Health Care Programs

1.2.2 Application Submission

Who Can File an Application

An application filer may file an application for Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP). An application filer includes the following people:

  • The applicant

  • An adult who is in the applicant’s Medical Assistance (MA), MinnesotaCare, or tax household

  • An applicant’s minor parents who are in the applicant’s tax or MA household

  • The applicant’s spouse

  • An authorized representative. See the MHCP Authorized Representative policy for more information.

  • A minor who is applying for coverage who does not live with a parent, legal guardian, or an adult acting responsibly for the minor and who will not be claimed as a tax dependent

  • People acting responsibly for a child under the age of 18 including:

    • An adult who lives with the child and who assumes primary responsibility for the minor

    • A social services professional who is not an authorized representative or legal custodian

    • Both custodial and non-custodial parents may file an application on behalf of a child. However, to have MA eligibility determined the child must apply with the parent with whom they live.

  • People acting responsibly for an incapacitated individual

  • People acting responsibly for a deceased individual, including but not limited to, the following:

    • A guardian or conservator

    • An executor or administrator of the deceased's estate

    • The surviving spouse

    • A surviving family member

Employees of, or entities contracted by health care providers who would receive MHCP payment cannot be application filers for a deceased individual.

Responsibilities of the Application Filer

Application filers:

  • May report changes on behalf of an applicant or enrollee.

  • May respond to requests for information regarding any person in their MA, MinnesotaCare, or tax household.

  • May make all attestations required for a determination on behalf of an applicant.

  • May attest to the joint filing status of their spouse.

  • May sign and return the annual renewal notice on an enrollee’s behalf.

Application Filer and Change in Circumstances

After an application is submitted, the application filer may change due to a change in circumstance. Changes in circumstance that could cause the application filer to change include the application filer’s death or the application filer leaves the household. In these cases, a new person must assume the role and responsibilities of the application filer for that household’s application.

Agencies may not require an MHCP enrollee to submit a new application or provide a written signature when assigning a new application filer due to a change in circumstance, including situations where the original application signer is no longer in the household.

Assistance with the Application

A person can choose anyone to help them with an application or renewal. However, only a person meeting the definition of an application filer or an authorized representative can submit the application or renewal on behalf of the applicant. The person is only able to sign the application or renewal if they are the application filer or authorized representative.

Legal Citations

Code of Federal Regulations, title 26, section 1.36B-1

Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, section 435.603

Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, section 435.907

Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, section 435.908

Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, section 155.20

Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, section 155.300

Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, section 155.305

Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, section 155.310

Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, section 155.315

Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, section 155.330

Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, section 155.335