How to get Medical Assistance or low-cost care in Minnesota

Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare

Medicaid is a public program that pays for health care when your income is low. Minnesota calls its version Medical Assistance, or MA for short. The Minnesota Department of Human Services, called DHS, runs it. Minnesota's Medicaid expansion took effect on January 1, 2014, according to the health policy group KFF.

The state has a second program named MinnesotaCare. It is a separate state program for people whose income is a little too high for Medical Assistance. Our Medicaid eligibility guide explains the other groups.

Who qualifies, and at what income?

Minnesota law sets the limits as a share of the federal poverty guidelines. These guidelines are a yearly dollar amount that the government uses to measure poverty. The limit rises with the number of people in your home. Here are the main groups of people who can join.

• Adults ages 21 to 64 can qualify for MA with income up to 133 percent of the poverty guidelines. They must not be pregnant or on Medicare.
• Young adults ages 19 and 20 can qualify at the same 133 percent level.
• Parents and caretaker relatives can qualify at the same 133 percent level.
• Children under 19 can qualify with income up to 275 percent.
• Adults with income above 133 percent and up to 200 percent can qualify for MinnesotaCare.

For Medical Assistance, the state subtracts an amount equal to 5 percent of the poverty guidelines, which helps you stay under the limit. People on MinnesotaCare pay a monthly premium that is based on income.

Where to apply and who to call

MNsure calls itself Minnesota's official health insurance marketplace, and it is one place to start. The DHS website is a second place to begin. You can apply at any time of year, and free local helpers can sit down with you. MNsure has a tool that finds one near you.

• Call MNsure at 651-539-2099 or toll free at 855-366-7873.
• DHS Health Care Consumer Support answers at 651-297-3862 in the Twin Cities area and at 800-657-3672 toll free from elsewhere. If you use a TTY, ask your preferred relay service to place the call.
• You can also visit Health Care Consumer Support in person at the Elmer L. Andersen Building, 540 Cedar Street in St. Paul, on weekdays from 8 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon.

Health Care Consumer Support can answer questions about MinnesotaCare eligibility, and it also helps with fee-for-service covered care. Free interpreter services are available for people who speak little or no English. Before you start, our guide to how to apply for Medicaid lists the papers to gather. During the process, write down the date of each call and keep a copy of anything you send. If a question on the form is unclear, ask for help.

How the 2027 work rule works in Minnesota

DHS says the federal work rule goes into effect on January 1, 2027. The state applies it to adults ages 21 to 64 on MA who do not live with their children under 19. It does not apply to pregnant people or to people 65 and older. It also does not apply to people whose coverage is based on a disability. Parents who live with a child under 19 are not affected.

Each month, you can meet the rule in several ways, so pick the one that fits your life.

• Earn or receive at least $580, no matter how many hours you worked.
• Work at least 80 hours at a job or in your own business.
• Do at least 80 hours of community service or volunteering.
• Take part in a work program for at least 80 hours.
• Attend school or an apprenticeship at least half-time.
• Combine these activities for a total of 80 hours.

The state will check the rule when you renew. For most cases, that starts with renewals in April 2027 or later, and some begin in March 2027. After that, affected adults renew every six months instead of every 12. American Indian and Alaska Native members still renew once a year. Other exempt groups include people with a serious health condition, caregivers of a person with a disability and veterans with a total disability rating.

DHS asks you to update your address now. It also asks you to tell the state how you expect to meet the rule, and to answer every letter right away. Under the federal wording, parents and caregivers of a child 13 or younger are also exempt. To see what counts, read our Medicaid work requirement guide.

What to do if your income is above both limits

MNsure is the state's own marketplace, so that is where you shop for private plans. A tax credit is money from the government that cuts what you pay each month for a plan. The bigger federal credits from the pandemic years ended after 2025. Also, for 2026 and 2027, nobody who earns more than 400 percent of the poverty level, which means four times that yearly amount, can get a tax credit.

If you lose a job, you may get a special sign-up window, so ask MNsure about it right away.

Finding care and checking a license

The Minnesota Association of Community Health Centers points to a Find a Health Center tool on its website. The fee at these centers depends on your income and the size of your family. The federal HRSA site also has a free locator. For tips on your first call, see our community health center guide.

The Minnesota Board of Medical Practice has a License Search, which you can use to check a doctor before you book.

Some doctors in Minnesota charge a flat monthly fee for primary care. This kind of care is called direct primary care. You can search cash-pay doctors in our directory. Before you sign up, get the list of services in the fee on paper.

Chest pain, trouble breathing and other emergencies call for 911 or a trip to the closest emergency room. Under federal law, the emergency room has to see you and stabilize you, even without insurance or money. Our guide to hospital financial assistance helps with the bill afterward.