Minnesota Health Care Programs
1.1 Programs Overview
Several programs provide Minnesota families and individuals affordable health coverage. Programs include public health care programs and help buying private health insurance.
Minnesota Health Care Programs
Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) are public health care programs administered by county, tribal and state servicing agencies under the supervision of the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS).
Medical Assistance
Medical Assistance (MA) is Minnesota's name for the federal Medicaid program, which began in 1966. County and tribal servicing agencies administer MA. MA provides health care coverage for low income Minnesotans. Federal, state and county dollars fund MA. See the MA chapter for more information.
MinnesotaCare
MinnesotaCare is a publicly funded state health care program established in 1992. In 2015, MinnesotaCare became a Basic Health Plan authorized under the Affordable Care Act. Federal and state dollars and enrollee premiums fund MinnesotaCare. See the MinnesotaCare chapter for more information.
Medicare Savings Programs
People eligible for Medicare may also be eligible for a Medicare Savings Program (MSP). People may be eligible for these programs (which help with costs such as Medicare premiums or co-payments) instead of or in addition to MA. See the MSP chapter for more information.
Minnesota Family Planning Program
The Minnesota Family Planning Program (MFPP) provides coverage of family planning and related health care services. The program increases access to pre-pregnancy family planning services for low-income Minnesotans and helps reduce the number of unintended pregnancies. See the MFPP chapter for more information.
Other Insurance Affordability Programs
MNsure administers eligibility for Minnesota’s advance premium tax credits, cost sharing reductions and unassisted qualified health plans. Eligibility policy related to these programs is available from MNsure.
Legal Citations
Code of Federal Regulations, title 26, section 1.36B-1
Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, section 155.305
Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, section 155.340
Minnesota Statutes, section 256B
Minnesota Statutes, section 256L