*** The Health Care Programs Manual (HCPM) has been replaced by the Minnesota Health Care Programs Eligibility Policy Manual (EPM) as of June 1, 2016.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: April 1, 2012 |
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25.05.10 - Premium Payment Options |
Archived: June 1, 2016 (Previous Versions) |
All MinnesotaCare enrollees must pay a premium to establish and maintain coverage.
Premiums are computed and billed on a monthly basis. Most enrollees make monthly payments. However, enrollees may choose to pay premiums in advance for up to one year.
People may pay premiums in the following ways:
l Mail a personal check, cashier’s check or money order to:
Minnesota Department of Human Services
Box 64834
St. Paul, MN 55164-0834
l Bring a payment, including cash, check or money order, to the following location Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:
MinnesotaCare Customer Service Center (first floor),
Elmer L. Andersen Building,
540 Cedar Street, St. Paul, MN 55155
l Pay online using a credit card (Visa or MasterCard only) or checking account via the DHS website.
Online payments made by 5:00 p.m. on a business day will be credited that day. Online payments made after 5:00 p.m. on a business day or anytime on weekends or holidays will be credited the next business day.
To make a premium payment online, an enrollee needs:
n MinnesotaCare Case Number
n Invoice Number (also called the "obligation number")
n Visa or MasterCard.
m Credit card number.
m 3-digit security code on the back of the card (Visa only).
m Credit card expiration date.
n Checking account.
m Bank routing number.
m Checking account number.
Treat a dishonored payment as failure to pay the MinnesotaCare premium. Dishonored payments include:
l Denied online payments.
l Checks returned for insufficient funds (NSF).
MMIS User Services:
l Sends clients the MinnesotaCare Request for Payment to Replace Returned Payment (DHS-4021).
l MMIS will close coverage and impose a four-month penalty period if the enrollee fails to replace the NSF check with a guaranteed form of payment.
l Notifies the worker that payment was dishonored.
Note: Document the returned payment in case notes or keep a copy of the letter in the file.
Enrollees must replace dishonored payments with a guaranteed form of payment such as:
l A cashier’s check.
l A money order.
l Cash.
If the household fails to make a guaranteed replacement payment, coverage will close and the household must serve a four-month penalty period unless they show good cause for nonpayment.
Require a guaranteed form of payment only for the dishonored payments.
Note: Do not require a guaranteed form of payment for any other current or future premiums owed.
Example:
Joe's September premium payment is received on August 15. On August 29, MMIS User Services is notified that Joe's check was returned for NSF.
Action:
MMIS User Services notifies Joe that the check was NSF and that he must replace the payment with a guaranteed form of payment. MMIS will close Joe's coverage for nonpayment if he fails to replace the NSF check with a guaranteed form of payment and he will be subject to a four-month penalty period. If Joe does replace the NSF check with a guaranteed form of payment by the reinstatement date, coverage will be reinstated.