*** The Health Care Programs Manual (HCPM) has been replaced by the Minnesota Health Care Programs Eligibility Policy Manual (EPM) as of June 1, 2016.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. ***
Effective: July 1, 2012 |
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17.10.10 - Non-Parent Caretaker |
Archived: June 1, 2016 (Previous Versions) |
Children living with a non-parent caretaker, such as a foster parent, guardian or a relative besides the parent (relative caretaker), have an exception to normal household composition rules for MinnesotaCare for themselves and the non-parent caretaker household.
Note: Stepparents are considered parents.
MinnesotaCare Non-Parent Caretaker Household General Information.
MinnesotaCare Non-Parent Caretaker Household Options.
MinnesotaCare Non-Parent Caretaker Household Size Example.
MinnesotaCare Non-Parent Caretaker Household General Information
A non-parent caretaker can be:
l A guardian.
A guardian is a person designated by a court to assume responsibility to care for a child. The guardian has all the powers and responsibilities that would otherwise be held by the parent of the child.
Note: Guardians must comply with medical support requirements for the children for whom they are legally responsible as a condition of the guardian’s own eligibility.
l A relative caretaker other than a parent or stepparent.
Relative caretakers are people age 18 or older who have primary responsibility for a child they are related to, but is not their own.
n The person is only considered a relative caretaker if a biological or adoptive parent or stepparent is not in the home.
Note: A stepparent must be counted as part of a stepchild’s household, regardless of whether the parent is in the home. Follow standard household composition rules.
n The following people and their spouses (even if death or divorce has terminated the marriage) are relative caretakers for MinnesotaCare purposes:
m Grandparents.
m Great-grandparents.
m Great-great-grandparents.
m Sister.
m Step-sister.
m Brother.
m Step-brother.
m Aunt.
m Great or great-great-aunt.
m Uncle.
m Great or great-great uncle.
m Nephew.
m Niece.
m First cousin.
m First cousin once removed.
Note: Relative caretakers must comply with medical support for the child they are caretaking as a condition of their own eligibility.
m Relative caretakers who are also guardians of the children in their care are relative caretakers, rather than guardians, when determining MinnesotaCare major program and benefit set.
l A foster parent.
A foster parent gives care to a child who is placed in a foster home by a social services agency for emergency, interim, or permanent care.
n A child who is in foster care is temporarily absent from the biological parents’ household.
Note: Count this child in the biological parents’ household, even though he or she is covered under his or her own case.
n Do not require foster parents to cooperate with medical support requirements.
MinnesotaCare Non-Parent Caretaker Household Options
Foster parents, guardians and relative caretakers of children for whom they are responsible have several options for MinnesotaCare household composition. They can apply for:
l The child separately from their own household.
Count only the child's income to determine the child's eligibility if the guardian, foster parent or relative caretaker applies only for the child.
Follow these steps if the non-parent caretaker applies for more than one sibling in their care:
1. Determine eligibility for the siblings as a household together.
Note: Count only the children’s income.
2. If the total income of the children is:
a. At or below 200% FPG they remain in a household together. Continue the eligibility determination.
b. Above 200% FPG, create separate cases and determine eligibility for each child, using only that child’s income. Separate cases may:
n result in a lower total premium for the children.
n reduce income below 200% for underinsured children.
l The household including the child.
n Include the income of the non-parent caretaker’s household and the child’s income in the gross family income when determining eligibility and premium amount if the guardian, foster parent or relative caretaker applies with the children.
n Include the child when determining who must apply based on the All or Nothing Rule.
l The household excluding the child.
Count only the income of the family when determining the gross family income if the guardian, foster parent or relative caretaker applies for only their family, and does not include the child. See MinnesotaCare Adults With Children for more information.
MinnesotaCare Non-Parent Caretaker Household Size Example
Mary and Bob are married with two children (ages five and eight). Mary’s niece Rebecca (age 10) lives with the family.
Action:
Mary has several options in applying for health care:
l Mary may apply for MinnesotaCare on behalf of her niece Rebecca without applying for herself or the rest of her family. Rebecca would have a household size of one, and only her income would be counted in her gross family income.
l Mary may apply for herself, her family and Rebecca as one household. The household size would be five, and each person’s income would be counted in the gross family income, including Rebecca’s. They would also have to follow the All or Nothing Rule.
l Mary may also choose to apply for herself, her spouse, and her two minor children without including Rebecca. Use a household size of four and exclude Rebecca's income in determining eligibility and premium amount.