All Minnesota Health Care Programs consider income in determining eligibility, benefit level and spenddown or premium amounts. How the income is calculated to determine a person’s total income varies by program.
Before a client’s total income can be calculated, a client’s income must be categorized as either earned or unearned income because they are treated differently. It must also be reviewed for possible exclusions or unavailability. And, if the income fits into a certain type of income, there are special considerations to follow to determine the amount of income to use.
This chapter provides income policy details. For more information on how to calculate income, see Income Calculation (Community).
Methods of Determining Income Eligibility.
Use the following steps to evaluate a client’s income:
1. Determine if the income is considered excluded. Excluded income is not counted.
2. Determine the availability of the income. Unavailable income is not counted.
3. Determine if the income is considered earned income or unearned income.
4. Follow the special rules to determine the countable amount income for specific types of income.
5. Verify income according to program rules.
6. Changes in income have specific rules. When a client reports an income change, be sure to follow program provisions.
Methods of Determining Income Eligibility
Different rules for evaluating income are used for different programs and sometimes for different groups of people within those programs. These different ways of evaluating income are called methods.
Note: Methods are also used when calculating income. More information on how the methods differ in this process can be found in the Calculating Income chapter of this manual.
The methods for evaluation are:
l MinnesotaCare.
This method consists of people applying for or receiving MinnesotaCare. All of MinnesotaCare major programs and group statuses evaluate a person’s income in the same manner.
l MA Method A.
This method consists of people who have an MA family basis of eligibility, including children, parents of children or caretakers.
l MA Method B.
This method consists of people who have an elderly, disabled or blind basis of eligibility. GAMC and the Medicare Savings Programs follow MA Method B when completing an income evaluation unless otherwise noted.
l Method X.
This method consists of people who have automatic eligibility, such as a person receiving certain cash assistance programs, an MA auto-newborn, and certain foster care or adoption placements.