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Effective: December 1, 2006 |
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03.20.15ar1 - MinnesotaCare for Children Under 21 (Archive) |
Archived: March 1, 2007 |
Children may be eligible for MinnesotaCare (MCRE) as part of this group for the month of birth through the month of their twenty-first birthday. There are some special provisions for children through the month in which they turn two; they are coded differently on the system than the older children in this group.
Note: For children ages 0-1 whose mothers were eligible for MinnesotaCare for the month of birth, see MinnesotaCare for Auto Newborns.
Eligibility factors are listed below with any information that is unique for this group. Links to standard program guidelines are included as well.
Citizenship/Immigration Status.
Insurance and Benefit Recovery.
Relationship to Other Groups/Bases.
Other Groups/Bases to Consider.
Application Process (standard guidelines)
People under 18 who do not live with a parent, relative caretaker, foster parent, or legal guardian may apply on their own behalf. This includes minor caretakers and minors without children.
Follow standard MinnesotaCare guidelines.
Renewals (standard guidelines)
Follow standard MinnesotaCare guidelines.
Follow standard MinnesotaCare guidelines.
Social Security Number (standard guidelines)
Do not require SSNs for:
l All children under age two through the month of their second birthday.
l Newly adopted children over age two until the next renewal.
l May be eligible with Federal Financial Participation (FFP) if they meet the citizenship requirements for federally funded MA. See Funding Health Care for Noncitizens.
l May be eligible for the same benefits but without FFP if they do not meet the citizenship requirements for federally funded MA.
Note: Noncitizens with an undocumented or non-immigrant status are not eligible for MinnesotaCare.
Residency (standard guidelines)
Follow standard MinnesotaCare guidelines.
Insurance barrier requirements differ depending on whether a child has Group One or Group Two status. Generally, most insurance barriers are not applied to Group One children, but are applied to Group Two children. See Insurance Barriers - MinnesotaCare.
Household Composition (standard guidelines)
Children under age 18 who would otherwise be included in their parents' household must be excluded from the parents’ case and opened on their own case if they are emancipated minors.
Children under 21 may have Group One or Group Two status. This status will determine their insurance barrier requirements.
l Group One: Household income is equal to or less than 150% FPG.
l Group Two: Household income is greater than 150% FPG.
Exception: Children who were enrolled in the Children's Health Plan (CHP) on or before June 30, 1993, who have maintained continuous enrollment retain Group One status even if household income is greater than 150% FPG.
For further information, see MinnesotaCare Eligibility Groups.
Asset Guidelines (standard guidelines)
Exclude the value of assets for all children under age 21.
There are two MinnesotaCare family income limits to consider for children under 21:
l 275% FPG is the limit for initial MinnesotaCare eligibility. Some enrollees under age 21 may remain eligible if income later exceeds 275% FPG; see MinnesotaCare Excess Income.
l Also determine if income is less than or equal to 150% FPG. For children who do not already meet the Children’s Health Plan exception noted above, this standard affects:
n Group status and insurance barriers, as noted above.
n The type of premium paid. See Premiums below.
Deductions/Disregards (standard guidelines)
Follow standard MinnesotaCare guidelines.
There are two types of premiums for children:
1. Fixed premiums. Children with income equal to or less than 150% FPG pay a fixed monthly premium of $4 per enrolled child.
2. Sliding scale premiums. Children with household income over 150% FPG pay a sliding scale premium based on household size, income, and number of household members covered.
See Premiums for further information.
Do not cancel infants under age two for failure to pay premiums. See Fail to Pay Premium/Voluntary Cancellation. Cancel other household members who fail to pay their premiums without good cause.
Make a request to forgive the portion of the past due payments attributed to an infant under age two for covered months in the past at any of the following times:
l The other household members wish to re-enroll after their four-month penalty period.
l The household wishes to add new members or new coverage for existing household members.
l When the infant turns age two.
Note: Do not make a request to forgive payments attributed to the infant at any time other than those listed above, or payments for future months.
If a child under 21 is pregnant, treat her as part of the MinnesotaCare for pregnant women group for purposes of premium requirements.
Covered Services (standard guidelines)
Children under 21 are eligible for the same benefits as MA enrollees with minor exceptions. They are not subject to deductibles, co-payments, or the service limitations that apply to some adults.
Follow standard MinnesotaCare guidelines.
Caretakers (other than foster parents) of children under 21 must cooperate in establishing paternity and obtaining medical support for the children unless they show good cause. Children's eligibility is not affected by a caretaker's failure to cooperate. See Medical Support.
Note: Do not require pregnant women under age 21 to cooperate with medical support. See Pregnant Women and Newborns.
The worker will be notified when an infant for whom a premium payment has not been made is turning two in the current month.
l MMIS will create monthly worker messages to identify infants who are turning two in the current month for whom a premium payment has not been made.
l Before billing in the month of the infant's second birthday, make a request to forgive the infant's portion of any unpaid premiums that were not previously forgiven. This includes the infant's unpaid premiums through the month in which the child turns two.
See MinnesotaCare for auto newborns for special provisions applying to children born to a woman enrolled in MinnesotaCare.
Also consider MA for Children Under 21.
Workers who have contact with families during the application process are encouraged to inform families that the Child and Teen Checkups Program (C&TC) is a MinnesotaCare benefit, and that the county C&TC agency will contact them with more information.