Changes being made to Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP)

The changes are due to new laws and may affect:

  • Your eligibility for health care coverage or services
  • What your coverage will pay for
  • What you may have to pay.

Changes already in effect:

Housing options for CADI and BI clients in foster care

In July 2011, case managers began assessing CADI and Brain Injury (BI, formerly called TBI) waiver clients who live in a corporate foster care setting to see if the client can be served in a community-living setting. If appropriate, the client may choose to move from their current residence to a community-living setting.

Some changes that began on October 1, 2011:

Personal Care Assistant (PCA) Rate Changes

Rate changes will change for PCA services provided to certain relatives. The state will pay agencies 20 percent less for services provided by PCAs who are relatives of the client. For this change, relative means a parent or adoptive parent of an adult child, a sibling age 16 years or older, an adult child, a grandparent, or grandchild.

PCAs should contact their employer to see if this change will affect their pay. If you are in a health plan, contact your plan for information about PCA rates. Parents and stepparents of minors, spouses, and paid legal guardians are still not allowed to be a PCA to their relative.

MA copays change

Two additional copays and a change to the monthly prescription drug copay cap:

  • $3 copay for non-preventive visits
  • $3 copay for eyeglasses
  • Prescription drug copay cap increases from $7 to $12

Changes that begin January 1, 2012

Enrollment in Special Needs BasicCare (SNBC)

People with disabilities who have Medical Assistance (including MA-EPD and waivers) will be asked to join a health plan to get health care. You may choose not to enroll and keep your MA or MA-EPD as it is. You will get more information in the mail if you are affected by this change. You may also find more information at www.dhs.state.mn.us/snbc.

Deductible may be required

People who have MA or MinnesotaCare may have a deductible. A deductible is an amount that a patient must pay toward health care costs that is separate from copays. The amount of the deductible will be based on income. When it is closer to January, more information will be online at www.dhs.state.mn.us/MHCPMemberServices.

Beginning January 1, 2014 for adults age 21-64

Premium for MA-EPD increases

The minimum monthly premium for Medical Assistance for Employed Persons with Disabilities (MA-EPD) will increase to $65 per month. Some enrollees also pay a monthly unearned income obligation. That amount will increase to 5 percent of unearned income.

Read about other changes to MHCP programs here.

If you have any questions, you can call:

  • Your county or MinnesotaCare worker
  • The MHCP Member Help Desk at (651) 431-2670 or (800) 657-3739
  • Your health plan member services (the number is on the back of your health plan member card)
  • Disability Hub MN at (866) 333-2466 for people with disabilities
  • The Senior LinkAge Line® at (800) 333-2433 for people 60 or older