Medical Assistance for Children Under 21 (Archive)

All children have a basis of eligibility for MA through the month of their 21st birthday. See the following sections for specific eligibility guidelines for children who are:

l  Ages 0-1, whose mothers were MA- or MinnesotaCare-eligible for the month of birth (auto newborns).

l  In foster care placement.

l  Receiving adoption assistance.

Eligibility factors are listed below with any information that is unique for this group. Links to standard program guidelines are included as well.

Application Process.

Eligibility Begin Date.

Renewals.

Verifications.

Social Security Number.

Citizenship/Immigration Status.

Residency.

Insurance and Benefit Recovery.

Household Composition.

Eligibility Method.

Asset Guidelines.

Income Guidelines.

Deduction/Disregards.

Spenddowns.

Covered Services.

Service Delivery.

Other Requirements.

End of Eligibility in Basis.

Relationship to Other Groups/Bases.

Other Groups/Bases to Consider.

Top of Page

Application Process  (standard guidelines)

Children under 18 who do not live with a parent, relative caretaker, foster parent, or legal guardian may apply on their own behalf. This includes minor caretakers and minors without children.

Children who are applying only for MA may apply at outstation locations other than the county agency, such as some hospitals and clinics.

Eligibility Begin Date  (standard guidelines)

Follow standard MA guidelines.

Top of Page

Renewals  (standard guidelines)

Follow standard MA guidelines.

Verifications  (standard guidelines)

Do not require verification of age.

Top of Page

Social Security Number  (standard guidelines)

Children under 21 who meet all other eligibility requirements are eligible even if their parents refuse to provide or apply for SSNs for them. The parents are ineligible.

Citizenship/Immigration Status  (standard guidelines)

Undocumented and non-immigrant children are not eligible for ongoing MA, but may be eligible for Emergency Medical Assistance (EMA). Other children who are noncitizens but cannot get federally funded MA due to their immigration status may be eligible for state-funded MA (program NMED).

Top of Page

Residency  (standard guidelines)

Follow standard MA guidelines.

Insurance and Benefit Recovery  (standard guidelines)

When new MA coverage is requested for a child (including infants under age two), ask the parent or caretaker about health insurance that may be available to the child and pursue cost-effective insurance premium payments if appropriate.

l  If you are unable to reach a parent or caretaker by phone, mail the Minnesota Health Care Programs Health Insurance Information form (DHS-1922B) with a cover letter (DHS-4599).

l  Record all pertinent information in case notes.

Note:  Do not take an adverse action against a child if the parent or caretaker fails to cooperate.

Top of Page

Household Composition  (standard guidelines)

If a child does not live with a biological or adoptive parent:

l  Use a household size of one, even if the child lives with siblings.

l  Do not count non-parent relative caretakers, including stepparents, in the child's household size.

Do not include parents or their other children in the child's household size if the child is emancipated. This includes children who meet any of the following:

l  Are or have been married.

l  Are on active duty in the armed services.

l  Have been declared emancipated by a court.

Eligibility Method  (standard guidelines)

Use Method A for income.

Top of Page

Asset Guidelines  (standard guidelines)

There is no asset limit for children under age 21.

Income Guidelines  (standard guidelines)

l  Ages 0-2:  280% FPG.

l  Ages 2-18:  150% FPG.

l  Ages 19-20:  100% FPG.

Deductions/Disregards  (standard guidelines)

l  Ages 0-2:  Work expense deduction for pregnant women and infants.

l  Ages 2-18:

n  $90 work expense deduction.

n  Dependent care deduction.

n  Child support deduction.

l  Ages 19-20:

n  17% earned income disregard.

n  Dependent care deduction.

n  Child support deduction.

Top of Page

Spenddowns  (standard guidelines)

Children ages 0-20 with excess income may be eligible by spending down to 100% FPG. Redetermine net income for children ages 0-18 using the:

l  17% earned income disregard.

l  Dependent care deduction.

l  Child support deduction.

Covered Services  (standard guidelines)

Children under 21 do not have co-payments or dental limits.

Service Delivery  (standard guidelines)

Managed care unless otherwise excluded.

Other Requirements

If a child under 18 does not live with a parent the child's parents may be liable for medical support or parental fees.

Top of Page

End of Eligibility in Basis

If children in any of the age groups are receiving inpatient hospital services on their second, 18th, or 21st birthday, continue MA until the end of the hospitalization if they meet all other eligibility criteria.

Relationship to Other Groups/Bases  (standard guidelines)

Children under 21 who are blind or disabled may be able to choose which basis of eligibility to use.

Exception:  Children who are eligible under the TEFRA option, or who receive services through the CAC, CADI, MR/RC, or TBI waiver programs must use a blind or disabled basis of eligibility.

See Multiple Bases of Eligibility.

Determine MA eligibility in place of automatic GAMC for General Assistance (GA) recipients who are ages 18-20.

Other Groups/Bases to Consider  (standard guidelines)

Also consider MinnesotaCare for Children Under 21.

Workers who have contact with families during the application process are encouraged to inform families that the Child and Teen Checkups Program (C&TC) is an MA benefit, and that the county C&TC agency will contact them with more information.

Top of Page