*** The Health Care Programs Manual (HCPM) has been replaced by the Minnesota Health Care Programs Eligibility Policy Manual (EPM) as of June 1, 2016. Please refer to the EPM for current health care program policy information. ***
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Effective: September 1, 2012 |
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09.20 - Verification of American Indian Status |
Archived: June 1, 2016 (Previous Versions) |
People who are American Indians are eligible to receive MinnesotaCare or MA-EPD without payment of a premium as long as they meet all other eligibility requirements. To qualify for premium-free coverage, individuals must verify their status as American Indians.
Accept any formal documentation from a tribe, Indian Health Services (IHS), or the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) that verifies a person is an American Indian. Examples of such verifications include, but are not limited to the following:
l A document such as an enrollment or membership card, a tribal census document, or a document issued by a federally recognized tribe indicating the person’s affiliation with the Tribe. See the U.S. Department of the Interior Indian Affairs website for the document, Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible to Receive Services from the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs, for the most recent information on federally recognized tribes.
l A document issued by the IHS indicating that the person is eligible for IHS services as an American Indian.
l A document obtained from the BIA recognizing the person as an American Indian.
Only require a client to verify American Indian status once. Do not require additional verification if documentation has already been provided as proof of citizenship or for the purpose of excluding certain assets owned by American Indians.
While several members of a household may be American Indians, only require verification from one person who is counted in the MinnesotaCare household. If more than one member provides verification, retain the additional verifications in the case file. The additional verification can be used later for breakaway cases or if the verified American Indian leaves the household. Enter a case note to document receipt of the verification and retain it as a permanent part of the client’s case record.
Consider documentation verifying American Indian status of a parent as sufficient verification of a biological child's American Indian status. Separate documentation verifying the child's American Indian status is not required. The parent does not need to be part of the child's MinnesotaCare household. Include information on what documentation was provided in a case note.