*** The Health Care Programs Manual (HCPM) has been replaced by the Minnesota Health Care Programs Eligibility Policy Manual (EPM) as of June 1, 2016.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: June 1, 2011 |
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17.15 - Temporary Absence |
Archived: June 1, 2016 (Previous Versions) |
Temporary absence refers to circumstances where one or more household members are absent from a household they share with others, but the absent members remain part of the household. The absent people may or may not be out-of-state or residing in a different county. Temporary absence primarily affects household composition and deeming.
What Is Not a Temporary Absence?
Temporary Absence Conditions - General Provisions.
Temporary Absence Conditions - MA.
Temporary Absence Conditions - MinnesotaCare.
What Is Not a Temporary Absence?
The following are some of the circumstances that are not considered to be a temporary absence for all programs:
l An absence of less than one calendar month.
Example:
Jacob, age 15, lives with his parents. He is admitted to the hospital on May 23. He is expected to remain hospitalized until approximately June 15.
Action:
Continue to include Jacob in his parent's household because he is expected
to be out of the home for less than one calendar month.
l An absence that is expected to be more than one calendar month and the person does not intend to return to the home, or does not meet a condition for temporary absence.
l Absence due to incarceration for more than one calendar month.
l A person enters an LTCF and is expected to be absent for more than 30 consecutive days.
l Another state has determined that the person is a resident of that state for any reason.
See Removing a Household Member for more information on when to stop counting a person in the household composition.
For all programs, a person who is away from home for a specific purpose but intends to return to the home once a specific activity has commenced, is temporarily absent.
The absence is temporary if the person is out of the home for one calendar month or more, and intends to return.
l Consider the temporarily absent person as a member of the household.
l Follow standard Deeming of Assets and Income rules and the All or Nothing Rule.
l There is no limit to the amount of time a person can be temporarily absent from the home.
Reminder: A person who is enrolled in a health plan for MA or MCRE must contact that health plan for information on how to receive care outside of the health plan’s service area.
Temporary Absence Conditions - General Provisions
The following are conditions for temporary absence for all programs:
l School attendance.
l Vacation.
There is no time limit on the length of a vacation for temporary absence purposes.
l Employment or job search.
l Natural disaster or catastrophic event.
l Personal or family emergency.
l Visits with non-custodial parents.
Note: For information on determining what household a child belongs in when there is alternate custody, see Determining MA Household Size and Determining MCRE Household Size.
Temporary Absence Conditions - MA
The following conditions are also considered temporary absence, along with the general provisions, for MA:
l Military service.
l A hospitalized auto newborn.
n This includes retroactive determinations filed after the infant’s birth.
n If the mother relinquished control of the infant the newborn is not considered temporarily absent.
Temporary Absence Conditions - MinnesotaCare
The following conditions are also considered temporary absence, along with the general provisions, for MCRE:
l Illness or hospitalization.
Note: People may enroll in MCRE while they are hospitalized, be temporarily absent from the household and be counted in the household size. The person’s MCRE eligibility, however, would not begin until discharged from the hospital.
l Foster care placement.
n A MCRE child who is placed in foster care may remain part of the MCRE household unless the placement is expected to be permanent.
n The family must continue to pay the child’s premium, and the child will continue to be covered and must receive services through the family’s managed care plan.