Health care assistance

Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) provide health care coverage to eligible families with children, adults, people with disabilities and seniors.

Apply for health care assistance

• Most people can apply online at MNsure or call 1-855-366-7873.
• People 65+ and people with a disability: Download and complete an application and submit to Hennepin County. See forms below.
• Call 612-596-1300 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Upload documents online

Upload documents directly to your case with InfoKeep, a safe and secure website.

Technology tools are available in the community

Submit forms and update your information

Download forms

You can download any Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) forms by visiting their searchable document library (eDocs).

Application forms

Any child, parent or person 64 and under who is not blind or disabled and not living in a nursing home, can download the MNSure application for health coverage and help paying costs and submit to Hennepin County if they are unable to apply online.

If you are age 65 or older, blind or certified disabled, living in or moving to a nursing home, or those applying for supports to remain in their own homes use the applications below.

Download the Minnesota health care programs (MHCP) - Application for certain populations and submit the completed application to Hennepin County if you are:

• 21 years of age or older, with no dependents, and have Medicare coverage
• 65 years of age or older
• A child currently in foster care
• Blind or have a certified disability
• Applying for Medical Assistance for Employed Persons with Disabilities (MA-EPD)
• Applying for help with your Medicare premiums

Download the Minnesota health care programs (MHCP) - Application for medical assistance for long-term care services (MA-LTC) and submit the completed application to Hennepin County if you are:

• Living in, or may need to move to, a nursing home
• 65 years of age or older and would like services to help you stay in your home
• Younger than 65 years of age, are disabled, and would like services to help you stay in your home

Undocumented residents may be eligible for Emergency Medical Assistance (EMA). If you are an undocumented resident, and you have applied for Minnesota Health Care Programs in the past, download the MNSure application for health coverage and help paying costs and submit to Hennepin County. More information is available on DHS's website.

How to submit documents and update your information

You have options to submit forms and documents and update your information.

• Update information and upload documents to InfoKeep
• Upload to MNbenefits
• Fax to 612-288-2981
• Mail to: Hennepin County Human Services Department P.O. Box 107 Minneapolis, MN 55440

If you don't have access to these options, there are document drop boxes available at any Human Service Center.

Available drop boxes for residents

Northwest Human Service Center - Brooklyn Center
7051 Brooklyn Boulevard
Brooklyn Center, MN 55429

• Main floor lobby 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays only

Health Services Building - downtown Minneapolis
525 Portland Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55415

• Main floor lobby 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays only

South Suburban Human Service Center - Bloomington
9600 Aldrich Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55420

• Outside building by Hennepin County entrance

South Minneapolis Human Service Center
2215 East Lake Street
Minneapolis, MN 55407

• First floor 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays only

North Minneapolis Human Service Center
1001 Plymouth Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55411

• Outside building near main entrance

Renew health care benefits

If you have Medical Assistance (MA) the Department of Human Services (DHS) must review your eligibility once a year to see whether you are still eligible. This process is called a renewal.

Use DHS's look up tool to find out when your renewal takes place.

You will receive a pre-renewal packet two to three months prior to your renewal. Renewal paperwork will be mailed out 45 to 60 days prior to the renewal date.

You can use a MNsure-certified navigator to help you fill out your renewal paperwork. Services from MNsure-certified navigators are always free. Find a navigator.

Watch for the circle in blue when it's time to renew

You'll get an envelope in the mail marked "Important information enclosed" with your renewal paperwork. Here's what to do next. You may need to provide some documentation. There are many ways to submit documents.

Managed health care options

If you qualify for a Medical Assistance (MA), you may need to choose a health plan (see below) to receive health care services.

Managed care enrollment guides are available from DHS to help you decide the program and health plan that best meets your health care needs.

• Managed Care Enrollment Guide for Families and Children Prepaid Medical Assistance Program (PMAP) and MinnesotaCare
• Managed Care Enrollment Guide for Seniors
• Managed Care Enrollment Guide for Special Needs BasicCare (SNBC)

Health plans for families and adults without children

Blue Plus

• Member Services: 651-662-5545
• Transportation: 651-662-8648

Health Partners

• Member Services: 952-967-7998
• Transportation: 952-883-7400 

Hennepin Health

• Member Services: 612-596-1036
• Transportation: 612-596-1036

Medica

• Member Services: 952-992-2580
• Transportation: 952-992-2580

UCare

• Member Services: 612-676-3200
• Transportation: 612-676-6830

UCare is not accepting new enrollees or re-enrollment.

Health plans for seniors, 65 and older

Blue Plus

• Member Services: 651-662-5545
• Transportation: 651-662-8648

Health Partners

• Member Services: 952-967-7029
• Transportation: 952-883-7400

Medica

• Member Services: 952-992-2580
• Transportation: 952-992-2580

UCare

• Member Services: 612-676-3200
• Transportation: 612-676-6830

Health plans for people with disabilities

Health Partners

• Member Services: 952-967-7998
• Transportation: 952-883-7400 

Hennepin Health

• Member Services: 612-596-1507
• Transportation: 612-596-1507

UCare

• Member Services: 612-676-3395
• Transportation: 612-676-6830

UCare is not accepting new enrollees or re-enrollment.

Medica

• Member Services: 952-992-2580
• Transportation: 952-992-2580

Hennepin County managed care team

Get help with enrollment questions, billing questions, or complaints and HMO issues.

612-596-8860 (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

You should know

Medical Assistance

Medical Assistance recipients are required to participate in managed care. There are some exceptions, and these are discussed in detail in the managed health care presentations at application sites. The managed health care advocates also can assist you.

Getting started

Once you get access to Medical Assistance, it can take several months to get enrolled in a health plan. In the meantime, you (and those who don't need to choose a health plan - see below) can have fee-for-service (also called straight Medical Assistance). This means you can go to any providers who accept Medical Assistance, and the provider will bill the state directly. Note: This does not apply to MinnesotaCare.

Once you are enrolled in a health plan, you must get all medical care from that health plan's providers, or you will have to pay the bills. If you have questions about your health plan, call the health plan (see the phone numbers above) or call the Hennepin County Managed Health Care Office at 612-596-8860.

Fee-for-service coverage for Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare members

Keeping your doctor

If each of your family members' clinics accept a different health plan, you may choose a different health plan for each person so they can continue seeing the same doctor. You will need to verify which plan each clinic accepts and then choose accordingly.

You may change your health plan at any time during the first 12 months you are in the managed health care plan. After the first year, you can only change health plans once a year during the annual health plan selection period, which begins in October. Annual health plan selection changes are effective the first of January of the next year. For changes at other times, call the Managed Health Care office at 612-596-8860.

Approval for treatment

When you are enrolled in a health plan you must receive all your medical services through that health plan's providers, or have a referral from the health plan to go outside of the network for medical services. Most billing problems are the result of not following this rule. Billing problems should be referred to the Managed Health Care Advocate at 612-596-8860 for investigation.

Troubleshooting

If you have been denied a service, or a service has been reduced or terminated, you can file an appeal with the health plan and request a state appeal. You must file an appeal with your health plan before you request a state appeal. To request an appeal, call your health plan and tell them that you disagree with their decision; they can help you with your questions and assist in filing an appeal.

Get help

Call the Hennepin County Managed Health Care Office at 612-596-8860 for help with enrollment questions, billing questions, or complaints. They can work with you and advocate for you when you have problems with the HMO. The staff also can give presentations to individuals and groups on managed health care.

Transportation to medical appointments

Minnesota Non-Emergency Transportation (MNET) provides transportation to medical appointments for people on Medical Assistance, some pregnant women and children on MinnesotaCare who have no other transportation available to them.

If you are enrolled in a managed health care plan, call your plan for transportation assistance.

• BluePlus: 651-662-8648
• Medica: 952-992-2292
• Health Partners: 952-883-7400
• Hennepin Health: 1-800-647-0550
• UCare: 612-676-6830

Resources and reimbursement

If you want reimbursement for mileage and parking expenses even if you are in a health plan, or if you receive your care "fee for service" (not enrolled in a health plan) and need assistance with medical transportation, call MTM at 1-866-467-1724.

Other information

Allowable medical transportation expenses

• Bus fare
• Taxi fare
• Light rail transit fare
• Mileage reimbursement (call in advance)
• Parking with a receipt
• Trips outside the local area, including transportation, lodging, and meals (call in advance).

"Fee for service"

Transportation must be to a Medical Assistance covered service from an enrolled provider or a service provider not enrolled with MHCP/DHS but could enroll with MHCP/DHS if they wanted to.

Medical Assistance "spenddown"

A Medical Assistance "spenddown" is like an insurance deductible. Non-emergency medical transportation does not count against the "spenddown." Non-emergency medical transportation is available and reimbursable even if the recipient spenddown has not been satisfied. Minnesota Non-emergency Transportation (MNET) provides transportation to medical appointments for people on Medical Assistance, some pregnant women and children on MinnesotaCare who have no other transportation available to them.

TEFRA overview

Families in need of health care coverage for their children with disabilities may be eligible for TEFRA. TEFRA, which stands for the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act, is Medical Assistance (MA) coverage for children with disabilities in families with incomes too high to qualify for MA.

To be eligible for MA under the TEFRA option, a child must meet all the following requirements:

• Determined ineligible for MA when parents’ income is counted
• Younger than 19 years old
• Lives with at least one biological parent, adoptive parent or stepparent
• Certified as disabled by the State Medical Review Team (SMRT)

How to apply for Medical Assistance under the TEFRA option

• Medical Assistance under the TEFRA option (PDF, 1MB)

You have the right to appeal

If you don't agree with an action taken on your case, you have the right to appeal.

File an appeal

There are several options to file.

Submit a handwritten request

Submit a handwritten request to appeal or use the Appeal to State Agency form (DHS-0033) to Hennepin County:

• Mail:
  Hennepin County Human Services Department
  PO Box 107
  Minneapolis, MN 55440
• Fax: 612-288-2981
• Drop off: Any Hennepin County Human Service Center drop box

Submit the Appeal to State Agency form (DHS-0033) to the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Submission instructions on the form.

Submit MNsure's appeal request form

• Online through your MNsure account, or
• By hand - Print, complete and submit the Appeal request form (submission instructions on form)

Submit the form by contacting MNsure at 651-539-2099. More information at Appeals / MNsure.

Timelines

• You must file your appeal within 90 days of the date of your eligibility determination notice.
• For decisions on Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare, you must file your appeal within 30 days of the date of your eligibility notice. This goes up to 90 days if you can show good cause for filing late.
• Important: for Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare, your benefits continue only if you appeal the later of: within 10 days of the date of the eligibility notice; or before the date when the action takes place.

Help while waiting for the appeal

You can continue to receive assistance while waiting for the appeal to be heard. If you lose the appeal, you must pay back any assistance received during that time.

Contact

• Minnesota Department of Human Services Appeals office: 651-431-3600
• Hennepin County Economic Supports office: 612-596-1300