American Indian and Alaska Native exemption
American Indian and Alaska Native people will be exempt from some federal Medicaid changes coming January 1, 2027. An exemption makes it easier to keep your health insurance.
If you are American Indian or Alaska Native:
- You do not have to meet work requirements.
- You do not have to renew your coverage every six months — only once a year.
To qualify for the exemption, you must be of lineal Tribal descent, be an enrolled Tribal member or be Tribal-enrollment-eligible at a federally recognized Tribe, but you do not need to be an enrolled Tribal member.
How do you know if you have Medical Assistance? You will have a member ID card like this.
In Minnesota, Medicaid is known by different names.
- Medical Assistance or MA
- “Straight MA" or Fee for Service
- Prepaid Medical Assistance Program or PMAP
How to report your American Indian or Alaska Native status
If you have Medical Assistance:
- Use the Renewal Lookup Tool. The tool will only ask about exemptions if work reporting requirements or six-month renewals apply to you. If you are asked about work or community engagement exemptions, check the box for “American Indian or Alaska Native.” If the tool does not ask about exemptions, you currently meet other exclusions. Report your status by August 31, 2026.
- If you are unable to submit your exemption electronically, you can call your county or Tribal agency.
If you are applying for Medical Assistance:
- In your online or paper application, answer “Yes” to the question: "Are you or is anyone in your family American Indian or Alaska Native?"
Using the Renewal Lookup Tool
Be prepared to provide three of the following four items to confirm your identity when using the tool:
- Case number
- Member number
- Last 4 digits of SSN
- Date of birth
Lookup tool instructions video