Medical Assistance

2.1.3.2 Income Limits

Minnesota’s Medical Assistance (MA) program considers income in determining eligibility, benefit set, spenddown and premium amounts. To be eligible for most programs, a person’s income must be less than or equal to the appropriate income limit. Income limits and calculations of countable income vary by program and by a person’s basis of eligibility. Income limits are based on federal poverty guidelines.

Federal Poverty Guidelines

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issues federal poverty guidelines (FPG).

These guidelines determine income eligibility for MA. A person’s applicable income limit is based on many factors, including, but not limited to:

The basis of eligibility for MA
The number of people included in the household size
Whether the person has a medical or long-term care spenddown for MA

Income Limits

The following income limits determine eligibility for MA:

Pregnant people: less than or equal to 278% FPG
Infants under 2: less than or equal to 283% FPG
Children 2 through 18: less than or equal to 275% FPG
Children 19 through 20: less than or equal to133% FPG
Parent and caretaker relatives: less than or equal to 133% FPG
Transition Year MA (TYMA) second six months: less than or equal to 185% FPG
Adults without children: less than or equal to 133% FPG
Refugee MA: less than or equal to 133% FPG
Adults age 65 and older: less than or equal to 100% FPG
Adults who are blind: less than or equal to 100% FPG
Adults who are disabled: less than or equal to 100% FPG
Children who are disabled and enrolled in MA under the TEFRA Option: less than or equal to 100% FPG

Some people have no income limit for MA eligibility. Many of these types of MA have an eligibility requirement that already evaluated income eligibility. See the chapter or policy linked below for more information:

Auto newborns
Former foster child younger than age 26
MA for Employed Persons with Disabilities (MA-EPD)
MA for people receiving Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MA-MSA)
MA for people with 1619 (a) or 1619 (b) status
MA for people with Breast or Cervical Cancer (MA-BC)
MA for people receiving services at the Center for Victims of Torture
MA Northstar Adoption Assistance
MA Northstar Title IV-E Foster Care and Title IV-E Kinship Assistance

See the Minnesota Health Care Programs Income and Asset Guidelines (DHS-3461A)for more information.

Legal Citations

Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.056