Medical Assistance for People Who Are Age 65 or Older or People Who Are Blind or Have a Disability

2.3.3.2.7.12 Continuing Care Retirement Community Entrance Fee

A continuing care retirement community (CCRC) entrance fee provides housing, services and nursing care, usually all in one location. This enables people to remain in a familiar setting as they grow older. Types of services provided by a CCRC include but are not limited to:

Board
Lodging
Nursing services
Medical services
Home health care
Other health-related services

A CCRC must be registered with the county recorder in the county where it is located. The CCRC must meet the following criteria to be registered:

Have a written contract with a person to provide services for the life of the person or a period in excess of one year. Services and lodging provided by a CCRC do not need to be provided at the same location
Requires an entrance fee of $100 or more
Requires the person to pay regular periodic charges for the care provided

The following are not considered to be a CCRC:

A facility operating solely as a nursing facility
A facility that delivers housing without services
A program or organization that provides services but not housing
Services received by a person that a relative (either blood or marriage) provides

Asset Value of the CCRC Entrance Fee

The available portion of an entrance fee paid to a CCRC counts toward the person’s asset total at application or renewal.

Availability of a CCRC Entrance Fee

The availability of the CCRC entrance fee is determined by reviewing the contract specifications signed by the person.

In order to be available to the person, the entrance fee paid to a CCRC must meet all of the following conditions:

All or a portion of the entrance fee can be refunded or used to pay for needed services if the person does not have other sufficient resources to pay for those services. Needed services may include, but are not limited to:
- Medical care, both inpatient and outpatient
- Home health care
- Skilled nursing care
The entire fee amount or the remaining portion of the fee can be refunded if the person:
- Dies
- Ends the contract and leaves the CCRC
The entrance fee does not purchase ownership interest in the CCRC.

Verification Requirements

The amount of the entrance fee available to the person must be verified at application and at renewal if not previously verified or if the contract was changed. The contract between a person and the CCRC may allow for a change in the availability of an entrance fee.

Legal Citations

Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.056, subdivision 3e

United States Code, title 42, section 1396p(g)