How much does Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) coverage cost?

Most MHCP programs have copays for prescriptions and other health care services. Your health care provider will tell you if you owe a copay.

Copays, deductibles and coverage limits vary by program. The Minnesota Health Care Programs benefit summary (PDF) gives you an idea of costs you may have to pay.

There are no copays for:

• Pregnant women
• Children under 21
• People living in a nursing home or other long-term care facility for more than 30 days
• People receiving hospice care
• Some American Indians
• Services covered by Medicare (unless Medicare has a copay)
• Refugees who have coverage through the Refugee Medical Assistance Program
• Preventive services as defined by the United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF)
• Family planning services
• Certain prescriptions used for the treatment of mental illness

For some members, there is no cost for health care coverage. Other members may have to pay a portion of the cost of a service. This may include copays, deductibles or spenddowns. We will tell you the actual amount when you are approved for health care coverage.

Some people who have more income than the MA income limit allows can qualify using a spenddown (PDF). A spenddown lets you deduct certain medical expenses from your income. MA will pay for covered services after your income is at or below the income limit after deducting these medical expenses.

Most MinnesotaCare members pay a premium. A premium is the monthly payment members must pay to start and keep health care coverage. How much you pay depends on your family size, income and the number of people getting coverage.

The MinnesotaCare premium estimator (PDF) can give you an estimate of your monthly premium. We will tell you the actual amount when you are approved for health care coverage.

People who do not pay a premium include:

• Children under 21
• Households with an American Indian enrollee
• Some military families. Military families may be able to get coverage without a premium for up to 12 months if a family member completed a military tour of duty within two years of being approved for coverage. This benefit is available to members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard and Reserves.

Most MA-EPD members pay a premium. You can estimate your premium by using the MA-EPD premium estimator. We will tell you the actual amount when you are approved for coverage. American Indians do not pay a premium.

For some children who have a disability, parents' income is not counted when deciding if the child qualifies for MA. However, parents may have to pay a monthly fee. Parental fees (PDF) are based on income and other factors. You can estimate the amount you may have to pay using the online parental fee estimator.

• County and tribal offices
• MinnesotaCare office
• Minnesota Health Care Programs Member Help Desk