MinnesotaCare

After you apply

After you apply, there are four important things you need to do:

  1. Watch your mail for your Health Care Notice
  2. Once you're approved, pay your premium
  3. After that, look for your insurance card in the mail
  4. Then, you can find a doctor or other health care provider

​1. Watch your mail

You will receive a letter titled “Health Care Notice.” It will say either:

Approved for MinnesotaCare

Your Health Care Notice will say "Approved" in the action column

an example of a health care notice that reads 'Approved' in the action column

Approved and you must give us more information

This means you have been approved for MinnesotaCare, but we need more information or paper proof from you. The letter will tell the information you need to provide, and by when. If the information is not received by that date, your MinnesotaCare may end.

an example of a health care notice with two entries in the action column that read 'Approved' and 'Does not qualify' respectively

Does not qualify

If your Health Care Notice says "Does not qualify" in the action column you have NOT been approved for MinnesotaCare

an example of a health care notice that reads 'Does not qualify' in the action column

2. Pay your premium

Once approved for MinnesotaCare, the insurance begins the month after you pay your premium if you have one. If your premium bill shows $0, skip to step 3.

  • You need to pay the premium bill by noon on the last business day of the month for the insurance to start on the first day of the next month.
  • For MinnesotaCare to continue, you must pay the premium bill each month. For frequently asked questions, go to MinnesotaCare premiums.
  • MinnesotaCare premiums

Example first month premium bill

An example first premium invoice

Pay online

  • Visit payments.dhs.state.mn.us
  • Select MinnesotaCare from the menu
  • Fill in your case number, the bill number and the bill amount.
  • You can pay by credit card (VISA, MasterCard or Discover) or electronic withdrawal from a checking account
Pay now

Pay by phone

  • Call 800-657-3672. Follow the options for “make a payment”.
  • You will need your case number, the bill number and the bill amount.
  • You can pay by credit card (VISA, MasterCard or Discover) or electronic withdrawal from a checking account.

Pay by mail

  • Allow enough time for your payment to arrive by the due date on the bill
  • Use the MinnesotaCare envelope that comes with your premium notice
  • Make your check or money order payable to MinnesotaCare, do not mail cash
  • Write your case number on your check or money order
  • If you are paying premiums for more than one case, send a separate check or money order for each case
  • Mail your payment with the payment stub to:
    MinnesotaCare
    PO Box 64834
    St. Paul, MN 55164-0834

Pay in person

  • Pay your premium at the MinnesotaCare office in downtown St. Paul
  • You can pay by cash, check or money order. If you pay by cash, you must have the exact amount.
  • County offices do not take MinnesotaCare payments.

MinnesotaCare Payment Center
First floor, Elmer L. Andersen building
540 Cedar St.
St. Paul, MN

  • The office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The office is closed on weekends and major holidays.
  • Metered parking available around building.
  • Public parking available in the ramp on ground level. Enter on Minnesota Street at rear of building.

3. Look for your insurance card in the mail

Your Minnesota Health Care Programs ID card looks like this:

sample-MHCP-ID-card-front

It means you have health insurance. Show it when you receive health care services.

If you do not receive an ID card within a couple weeks after paying your first premium, call Health Care Consumer Support, do not submit another application.

Health Care Consumer Support

4. Find a doctor or other health care provider

Most enrollees get their MinnesotaCare insurance through a health plan like Blue Plus, HealthPartners, or South Country Health Alliance.

If you are not a health plan member, you have what is called “fee-for-service” coverage. Fee-for-service means that doctors and other health care providers bill the state directly for services they provide to you.

Health plan members

If you are a health plan member, you will receive a second ID card from your health plan in the mail. You must go to doctors, dentists and other providers who are in your health plan's network for most services. If you need to see a specialist, contact your health plan and ask if you need a referral before you go.

You can find a provider by contacting your health plan's member services staff or by searching the provider directory

Health plan member services Health plan provider directories

Fee-for-service members

If you have fee-for-service, a health plan does not manage the cost of your care. Instead, the State of Minnesota pays providers directly when they deliver and bill for services. You can use the Minnesota Health Care Programs Provider Directory to find a doctor, clinic, pharmacy, or other provider and schedule an appointment. You can also learn more about fee-for-service coverage by visiting the fee-for-service coverage page.

Minnesota Health Care Programs Provider Directory Learn about fee-for-service coverage