2.5.7 Refugee Medical Assistance

Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) provides health care coverage for the first eight months for certain newly arrived refugees who are not otherwise eligible for MA.

Because the income limits are higher for MA for Families with Children and Adults (MA-FCA) than for RMA, anyone with a parent, relative caretaker, pregnant person, child or adults without children basis of eligibility and income below 133% FPG is otherwise eligible for MA and are not eligible for RMA.

Refugees, older than age 65, who do not have a parent basis, are not otherwise eligible for MA-FCA. Because MA for People Who Are Age 65 or Older and People Who Are Blind or Have a Disability (MA-ABD) has a lower income limit and an asset limit, some refugees older than age 65 are not otherwise eligible for MA-ABD. They may be eligible for RMA.

When a person’s income increases and they are no longer otherwise eligible for MA, they may qualify for the remainder of their eight-month RMA eligibility period. RMA eligibility lasts for eight months, regardless of income changes.

RMA is a program of the Minnesota Department of Human Services Refugee Resettlement Office.