Minnesota Health Care Programs
Eligibility Policy Manual
Welcome to the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) Minnesota Health Care Programs Eligibility Policy Manual (EPM).The manual contains the official DHS eligibility policies for the Minnesota Health Care Programs including Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare. It does not provide procedural instructions or system information. Minnesota Health Care Programs policies are based on the state and federal laws and regulations that govern the programs.See the Legal Authority section for more information.
Updates
Beginning June 1, 2023 policy clarifications and policy additions are announced through an Email Subscription. Anyone can sign up to receive the Email Subscription.
Recent Updates
October 28, 2026October 28, 2026
We added a link to quick reference guides to help evaluate the policy on the following pages:
- 2.3.3.2.7.10 MA-ABD Life Insurance
- 2.3.3.2.7.10.1 MA-ABD Life Insurance Funded Burial Contracts
- 2.3.3.2.7.11 MA-ABD Burial Contracts
- 2.3.3.2.7.11.1 MA-ABD Burial Space Exclusion
- 2.3.3.2.7.11.2 MA-ABD Burial Fund Exclusion
- 2.3.3.2.7.11.3 Prepaid Burial Arrangements
2.5.7 Refugee Medical Assistance
We incorporated Bulletin Corrected #26-06-02C: Eligibility Period for Refugee Medical Assistance Increased to Twelve Months into this EPM page.
October 21, 2026October 21, 2026
We clarified the definition of lawfully present noncitizen with an updated list of individuals considered lawfully present for MHCP eligibility.
October 1, 2026October 1, 2026
The following standards and guidelines are updated effective October 1, 2026, in Appendix F based on corrected figures we received.
- Utility Allowance increased from $667 to $690
- Electricity Allowance increased from $235 to $243
- Telephone Allowance increased from $62 to $64
We clarified the descriptions of the MHCP programs and the funding sources.
1.3.2.1 MHCP Change in Circumstances
We incorporated Bulletin #25-21-01 DHS Simplifies Certain Requirements for Medical Assistance for Employed Persons with Disabilities (MA-EPD). MA-EPD enrollees have 30 days to report changes and no longer have a six-month income review
2.5.7 Refugee Medical Assistance
We clarified the existing policy, updated the RMA eligibility period to eight-months, and increased the income standard to 200% FPG.
August 27, 2026August 27, 2026
The following standards and guidelines are updated in Appendix F:
- IRS Mileage Rate
- Utility Allowance
- Electricity Allowance
- Telephone Allowance
August 19, 2026August 19, 2026
2.1.4.1 Medical Assistance Begin and End Dates
Coverage End Date
We remove incarceration status as a reason to end MA coverage.
2.2.3.4 MA-FCA Income Methodology
We clarified that unemployment compensation that is counted based on the annual amount a person expects to receive during the 12 month certification period is only when the unemployment compensation is from seasonal income.
DHS discontinued the use of manual letters to announce policy clarifications and policy additions effective June 1, 2023. You can see a list of manual letters published between June 1, 2016 to June 1, 2023 in the EPM Archive Manual Letters. This page does not contain eligibility policy and stopped being archived after June 1, 2023.
Bulletins
DHS bulletins provide information about policy changes and direction to county and tribal health and human services agencies and other DHS business partners. According to DHS policy, bulletins more than two years old are obsolete. Anyone can subscribe to the Bulletins mailing list.
A DHS Bulletin supersedes information in this manual until incorporated into this manual. The following bulletins have not yet been incorporated into the EPM:
- Bulletin #23-21-27 DHS Implements Continuous Medical Assistance Eligibility for Children Under Age 19
- Bulletin #24-21-01 DHS Explains Certain MA Enrollees Must Provide Verification of Assets at Renewal
- Bulletin #24-21-08 DHS Simplifies Access to Help Paying Medicare Costs for SSI Beneficiaries
- Bulletin #24-21-11 DHS Expands Continuous MA Eligibility for Children Up to Age 6, and for Children Ag
- Bulletin #24-26-01 Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) Program Timeline Extended to 12 Monthses 19 and 20
- Bulletin #25-06-02 DHS Announces Reduction of the Eligibility Period for Refugee Cash Assistance and Refugee Medical Assistance
- Bulletin #25-21-01 DHS Simplifies Certain Requirements for Medical Assistance for Employed Persons with Disabilities (MA-EPD)
- Bulletin #25.21-02 DHS Extends Temporary Changes to Deadlines for Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare Eligibility Appeals 02/21/25
- Bulletin #25-21-04 DHS Eliminates Grace Month Premium Payment to Restart MinnesotaCare Coverage
- Bulletin #25-21-06 DHS Announces Expedited Criteria for Disability Determinations by the State Medical Review Team and an Expedited Referrals Unit
- Bulletin #25-21-07 DHS Continues MHCP Enrollee Address Update Policies
- Bulletin #26-21-01 DHS Provides Policy Changes and Clarifications for Continuous Medical Assistance Eligibility for Children
- Bulletin #26-21-02 DHS Finalizes MHCP Telephonic Application and Renewal Policies
- Bulletin #26-21-03 DHS Ends Requirement for Certain MA Enrollees to Apply for Social Security Disability Benefits
- Bulletin #26-21-04 DHS Continues Certain Minnesota Health Care Programs Ex Parte Renewal Policies
- Bulletin #26-21-05 DHS Announces Acceptance of Out-of State MHCP Enrollee Address Updates from Reliable Sources
- Bulletin #26-21-06 DHS Will End MA Eligibility for Certain Noncitizen Adults Starting Oct 1, 2026
- Bulletin #26-21-07 DHS Extends State Residency for MCHP to Certain Foster Care Children
- Bulletin #26-21-08 DHS Announces Six-Month Eligibility Renewals for Certain Adults Enrolled in MA or EMA
COVID-19 Emergency Bulletins: These bulletins announce temporary policy modifications, which supersede policies in this manual, during the COVID-19 emergency. Because these bulletins provide temporary guidance, they will not be incorporated into this manual.
Prior versions of EPM sections are available upon request. This manual consolidates and updates eligibility policy previously found in the Health Care Programs Manual (HCPM) and Insurance Affordability Programs Manual (IAPM). Prior versions of policy from the HCPM and IAPM are available upon request.
Contact Us
Direct questions about the Minnesota Health Care Programs Eligibility Policy Manual to the DHS Health Care Eligibility and Access (HCEA) Division, P.O. Box 64989, 540 Cedar Street, St. Paul, MN 55164-0989 or fax (651) 431-7423.
Health care eligibility workers must follow agency procedures to submit policy-related questions to HealthQuest.
Legal Authority
Many legal authorities govern Minnesota Health Care Programs, including but not limited to:
- Title XIX of the Social Security Act;
- Titles 26, 42 and 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations;
- Minnesota Statutes chapters 256B and 256L, and
- Certain federal regulations from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Each topic in the EPM includes applicable legal citations at the bottom of the page.
DHS has made every effort to include all applicable statutes, laws, regulations and other presiding authorities; however, erroneous citations or omissions do not imply that there are no applicable legal citations or other presiding authorities. The EPM provides program eligibility policy and should not be construed as legal advice.
EPM Subscription
After you set up an account, you will have the opportunity to scroll down to select Minnesota Health Care Programs Eligibility Policy Manual, which will provide an update or all sections, or you can select which individual sections of the EPM you want to be notified when an update occurs.You can change your subscriber preferences at any time by logging into your account.