*** The Health Care Programs Manual (HCPM) has been replaced by the Minnesota Health Care Programs Eligibility Policy Manual (EPM) as of June 1, 2016.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. ***

Chapter 03 - Eligibility Groups and Bases of Eligibility

Effective:  July 1, 2008

03.30.05 - Medical Assistance (MA) for People Age 65 or Older

Archived:  June 1, 2016 (Previous Versions)

Medical Assistance for People Age 65 or Older

People who are age 65 or older have a basis of eligibility for MA.

Eligibility factors and links to standard program guidelines are provided below.

Application Process.

Eligibility Begin Date.

Renewals.

Verifications.

Social Security Number

Citizenship/Immigration Status.

Residency.

Insurance and Benefit Recovery.

Household Composition.

Eligibility Method.

Asset Guidelines.

Income Guidelines.

Deductions/Disregards.

Spenddowns.

Covered Services.

Service Delivery.

Other Requirements.

End of Eligibility Basis.

Relationship to Other Groups/Bases.

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Application Process  (standard guidelines)

Follow standard MA guidelines.

Eligibility Begin Date  (standard guidelines)

Follow standard MA guidelines.

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Renewals  (standard guidelines)

Follow standard MA guidelines.

Verifications  (standard guidelines)

Do not require verification of age.

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Social Security Number  (standard guidelines)

Follow standard MA guidelines.

Citizenship/Immigration Status  (standard guidelines)

Follow standard MA guidelines.

See the Medical Assistance Immigration Status and Eligibility Table for a summary of MA system coding for noncitizen people age 65 and older.

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Residency  (standard guidelines)

Follow standard MA guidelines.

Insurance and Benefit Recovery  (standard guidelines)

Follow standard MA guidelines.

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Household Composition  (standard guidelines)

Follow standard MA guidelines.

Eligibility Method  (standard guidelines)

Use Method B for income and assets.

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Asset Guidelines  (standard guidelines)

The asset limit is:

l  $3,000 for a household of one.

l  $6,000 for a household of two.

l  $200 for each additional household member.

Income Guidelines  (standard guidelines)

The income limit is 100% FPG.

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Deductions/Disregards  (standard guidelines)

Use the following Method B deductions in the order given:

1. Disabled widow and widower’s disregard.

2. Widow and widower's disregard.

3. Pickle disregard.

4. Disabled adult children disregard.

5. The first $65 of earned income disregard.

6. One-half the remaining earned income.

See Elderly, Disabled and Blind Income Computation Worksheet (Method B) (DHS-0029C).

Spenddowns  (standard guidelines)

People with income over 100% FPG may be eligible by spending down to 75% FPG.

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Covered Services  (Prepaid MHCP Manual)

People who reside (or expect to reside) in a long-term care facility (LTCF) for at least 30 days are not subject to co-payments.

Service Delivery  (Prepaid MHCP Manual)

People age 65 or older who are not enrolled in a managed care plan receive services through fee-for-service (FFS).

People age 65 or older, including people who receive services through the Elderly Waiver (EW), who are not subject to a managed care exclusion will be enrolled in Minnesota Senior Care or Minnesota Senior Care Plus, depending on their county of residence. Most seniors may voluntarily enroll in Minnesota Senior Health Options (MSHO) if they so choose.

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Other Requirements

Not applicable.

End of Eligibility Basis

Follow standard MA guidelines. See Change in Basis of Eligibility and Changes in Circumstances.

Relationship to Other Groups/Bases  (standard guidelines)

See Multiple Bases of Eligibility.

People who are age 65 or older may also be eligible for:

l  The Medicare Savings Programs if they are Medicare-eligible.

l  A waiver of deeming requirements and/or expanded MA services.

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