*** The Health Care Programs Manual (HCPM) has been replaced by the Minnesota Health Care Programs Eligibility Policy Manual (EPM) as of June 1, 2016. Please refer to the EPM for current health care program policy information. ***
Effective: August 1, 2010 |
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13.20 - Temporary Absence from Minnesota |
Archived: June 1, 2016 (Previous Versions) |
These policies apply to all Minnesota Health Care Programs.
See Out-of-State Services for information on how to get services paid while temporarily away from Minnesota.
Determining Temporary Absence.
Temporary Absence Due to Training or School Attendance.
Verification of Inconsistent or Questionable Absence.
Enrollees may be absent from the state temporarily without losing Minnesota residence and eligibility for Minnesota Health Care Programs.
People are temporarily absent from Minnesota if they have left the state for a temporary purpose and intend to return when the reason for the temporary absence ends.
Reasons for the temporary absence include but are not limited to:
l School attendance or training.
l Employment.
l Illness or hospitalization.
l Vacation.
l Job search.
l Military service.
l Working in another state.
l Natural disaster or catastrophe.
l Personal or family emergency.
l Visits with a non-custodial parent or other relatives.
The time limit for the temporary absence depends on the reason for the absence.
Example:
Georgia is enrolled in MA and must go to North Dakota for an eight-week training course for a new job.
Action:
Georgia remains eligible for MA, but must return to Minnesota at the end of the eight-week training.
Example:
Alice is enrolled in MA and is going to Florida for one month to visit her grandparents.
Action:
Alice must return to Minnesota at the end of the one-month visit or notify her worker that she will be staying for a longer visit.
Example:
Amy is on MA and enters the hospital. She is not able to live alone during her recuperation after she leaves the hospital. Amy gives up her apartment and goes to her parents' home in Illinois. Her employer in Minnesota is holding her job for her. She intends to live in Minnesota when she recovers.
Action:
Since Amy intends to return to Minnesota when she recovers, she meets the temporary absence rule.
Temporary Absence Due to Training or School Attendance
For school attendance or training to be considered a temporary absence, the student must:
l maintain a home in Minnesota (or, for children, have a home maintained by a parent or relative caretaker).
l return home during vacations and school breaks.
Example:
Jason, who is 16 years old, is receiving MA along with his parents and 10-year-old sister. In September, Jason’s mother reports that he will be absent from the household while attending school. She says that he will return home for holidays and during summer vacation.
Action:
Consider Jason a member of his parents’ household. Deem the parents’ income to Jason.
Example:
Ralph is receiving MinnesotaCare along with his wife and two children. He reports that he will be temporarily absent while attending vocational training in Iowa. Ralph returns home on most weekends, school breaks and summer vacations.
Action:
Consider Ralph temporarily absent. He remains a member of the household.
Example:
Emily, who is 19 years old, is enrolled MinnesotaCare with her parents and siblings. Emily’s mother reports that Emily has left to attend a four year college program in North Dakota. Emily will live on campus. She may return to her parents’ home occasionally to visit but does not consider it her home. She plans to look for employment in North Dakota.
Action:
Emily is not temporarily absent. Do not consider Emily a member of the MinnesotaCare household.
Verification of Inconsistent or Questionable Absence
Request verification of one or more of the following if information about the temporary absence is inconsistent or questionable. Verification can be a written statement from the client or other documentation indicating:
l Whether the person or family intends to return to Minnesota when the reason for the temporary absence ends.
l The reason for the temporary absence and the approximate date of return. The reason for the temporary absence cannot be vague; it must be specific and defined.
l Whether the person or family lived in Minnesota before going to the other state.
l Whether the person maintains a home in Minnesota.
l Whether another state considers the person a permanent resident.
l Whether the client receives assistance from another state.
l Whether the person maintains evidence of continued Minnesota residence, such as:
n Valid Minnesota Driver's license or state ID card.
n Vehicle registration.
n Payment of Minnesota state income taxes.
n Voting in Minnesota by absentee ballot.
Example:
Gary was enrolled in MinnesotaCare for adults without children. On several occasions, Gary’s mail was returned to the agency marked ”temporarily away.” Gary had not reported that he would be temporarily absent from the state, so his MinnesotaCare was closed. When Gary learned that his MinnesotaCare was closed he called his worker and stated he was in California helping a friend and intended to return to Minnesota. He could not provide a specific reason his friend needed his help or an anticipated date of return. Gary had been in California for several months and had a part-time job in California. He did not maintain a home in Minnesota, but gave his parent’s address as his Minnesota address. He provided a driver’s license with his former Minnesota address.
Action:
Gary did not provide adequate verification that he is a Minnesota resident and that he is temporarily absent from the state. He is not eligible for MinnesotaCare.
Submit a HealthQuest if you are not sure whether a specific situation qualifies as a temporary absence from the state.