*** The Health Care Programs Manual (HCPM) has been replaced by the Minnesota Health Care Programs Eligibility Policy Manual (EPM) as of June 1, 2016.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: May 1, 2012 |
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19.35.05 - MinnesotaCare Excess Assets |
Archived: June 1, 2016 (Previous Versions) |
If a client reports assets in excess of his or her asset limit, contact the client to ask:
l if any assets have encumbrances not already reported. Do not require verification of encumbrances.
l if he or she received a federal tax refund in the past 12 months. If the client received a federal tax refund, reduce the client's asset total by the amount of the reported refund, regardless of whether the client actually retained the refund. Do not require verification of the refund in order to exclude it. Document the client's statement and the reduced asset total in case notes.
Deny MinnesotaCare (MCRE) for the client if his or her assets remain in excess of the applicable asset limit.
Example:
Susan, age 35, single, and employed, applies for MCRE. She has a household size of one. She reports owning a vehicle with an equity value of $8,000, a checking account with a $500 balance, and non-homestead real property she inherited valued at $19,500.
Action:
Susan’s asset total is $20,000. Exclude her vehicle because it is used for employment. Count the checking account and the value of the non-homestead property in Susan’s asset total. Her $20,000 asset total is in excess of her $10,000 asset limit. Contact Susan to ask if any of her assets have encumbrances not already reported or if she received a federal tax refund in the past 12 months.
Susan reports her assets do not have any additional encumbrances and she did not receive a federal tax refund in the past 12 months. Deny MinnesotaCare for Susan.
See Reducing Assets for applicants who reapply after being denied for excess assets.
Review a client's assets at renewal or when adding a household member. If the client reports excess assets, contact the client to ask:
l if any assets have encumbrances not already reported. Do not require verification of encumbrances.
l if he or she received a federal tax refund in the past 12 months. If the client received a federal tax refund, reduce the client's asset total by the amount of the reported refund, regardless of whether the client actually retained the refund. Do not require verification of the refund in order to exclude it. Document the client's statement and the reduced asset total in case notes.
Close coverage if the client's assets remain in excess of the applicable asset limit. Do not close coverage for excess assets at any other time.
The enrollee may reduce assets before the effective date of closing to remain eligible. See Reducing Assets for more information.
l Do not require verification of a reduction in assets.
l If people denied for excess assets reapply and assets are within the asset limits, ask how assets were reduced. For more information on applications, see When to Require An Application and Updating an Application or Renewal.
Example:
Peter's application was denied in July because his countable assets of $12,000 exceeded the $10,000 asset limit. In October, he calls the worker asking to reapply and his asset total is $9,500.
Action:
Ask Peter how he reduced the excess $2,500. Peter reports he took $3,000 from his savings account to pay off debts to credit card companies and friends. Peter is now asset eligible.
l If assets were reduced in ways that do not increase the value of other non-excluded assets, approve MCRE if countable assets are now within limits.
Example:
Hermione's application was denied in July because her asset total was in excess of her $10,000 asset limit. The assets she reported at that time were a savings account of $3,000, and a boat with an equity value of $12,000.
In September Hermione reapplies. She reports her savings account is now $1,000, and that she sold the boat and purchased her first vehicle, and now does not have to take the bus to work.
Action:
Exclude the vehicle because it is used for employment. Hermione is now asset eligible with the $1,000 asset total if she does not report any other assets.