Renewing eligibility and reporting changes for health care programs
If you have Medical Assistance (MA) or MinnesotaCare coverage, we must determine your eligibility once a year to see whether you are still eligible for health care coverage. This process is called a renewal. You must report changes affecting your eligibility throughout the year as they occur.
MA and MinnesotaCare require eligibility to be determined once a year. This process is called a renewal and confirms that you are still eligible for Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP). If you are due to renew your coverage, you can expect to get a notice from the Department of Human Services (DHS). That notice will explain what you need to do. You do not need to do anything until you get this notice. You will get one of the following:
A notice that says your eligibility was renewed automatically and you don't have to do anything unless you have a change to report.
A notice that includes a form you must return within 30 days to keep your health care.
If you need to return a renewal form, you will have at least 30 days to do that. You will not lose health care eligiblity before the end of the 30-day period. Be sure to follow your notice's instructions.
If you are due to renew your eligibility in 2016 for January 2017, you can expect to get a health care renewal notice from the Department of Human Services (DHS) in mid-October 2016. That notice will explain what you need to do. You do not need to do anything until you get this notice. You will get one of the following:
A notice that says your eligibility was renewed automatically and you do not have to do anything unless you have a change to report.
A notice that includes a form you must return within 30 days to keep your health care.
If you need to return a renewal form, use the envelope provided. You will have at least 30 days from the date on the notice to return the form. You will not lose eligibility before the end of the 30-day period. If you have MinnesotaCare, you must continue to pay your premiums on time. Be sure to review the printed information about your household and make any needed corrections and report any new changes on the form. Provide proof of income (if applicable), sign and date your renewal form and return it by the due date.
What do I need to do?
Watch for your health care renewal notice in the mail. The notice will come with a renewal form or an information summary. When the notice comes, be sure to read the renewal form or the information summary carefully. Make sure that the information for each member of your household is complete and correct. If any information is incorrect or missing or is repeated but should not be, make updates on the renewal form or the information summary.
If you get a renewal form, review and update the three pieces of income information that the form asks for:
Income: List the amount of money each household member currently gets.
Income adjustments: List the allowable IRS adjustments located on lines 23–35 of the IRS Form 1040. If a household member does not have adjustments on lines 23–35 of your IRS Form 1040, do not list adjustments on your renewal form.
Projected annual income: List the total money each household member expects to get from January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017, minus allowable income adjustments.
If you get a renewal form, we will need proof of the income reported for each household member on the form. This includes proof of income, adjustments and projected annual income.
Send a copy of all pages of your most recent federal tax return.
Include all the schedules and forms.
Include all Form W-2 wage statements.
Include all Forms 1099 (Form 1099 shows unemployment or other income that is not reported on a Form W-2).
If you don’t file taxes or your taxes do not represent your current or projected income, you must provide a written explanation and proofs. Proofs can be the following:
Paystubs or earnings statements.
A payroll statement from your employer.
Award letters.
Other types of proof for all the income listed on your renewal form.
If you get a renewal form, sign the form after you fill it out. If you do not sign the renewal form, it will be returned to you, and your renewal may not be processed in time.
If you get a renewal form, return all pages of the completed form and your proofs to the agency listed on the renewal notice in the envelope provided, even if you do not have changes to report. Missing pages and information will delay the processing of your renewal.
If you have MinnesotaCare and are unable to send your renewal form and proofs to MinnesotaCare, bring them to your county or tribal agency.
If you get a renewal form, fill it out and return it as soon as you can. If we do not process your completed renewal form by December 20, 2016, your health care coverage may end December 31, 2016.
Whom do I call if I have questions about my renewal? Where can I go if I need help in person?
If members of your household have MinnesotaCare only or MinnesotaCare and MA, call or visit the MinnesotaCare office.
Certified navigators are also available throughout the state. They can answer basic questions and help you fill out the renewal form and fax documents to MinnesotaCare or your county or tribal agency. Navigators do not process renewal forms or have access to the system to make changes to your case.
Note: If you do not need to meet with a worker, you can drop off renewal forms and required proofs at any county, tribal, MinnesotaCare or navigator office. If you need to meet with a worker, you must go to the agency listed on your renewal notice.
When is my renewal form due?
Your renewal form is due 30 days from the date on the notice.
What happens if I return my renewal form or requested information after the due date?
If you return your form or requested information, after the due date:
You could lose your MA or MinnesotaCare coverage for one or more months in 2017.
You could lose your health plan coverage for one or more months in 2017.
When will my renewal form be processed?
Renewal forms are processed in the order they are received at the agency.
Mailing your form to the wrong agency will delay processing.
Sending an unsigned or incomplete renewal form that requires more information will delay processing.
If I have MinnesotaCare, what do I need to know about my MinnesotaCare premium during renewal time?
Continue paying the amount shown on your invoice. Your MinnesotaCare premium may change after your renewal form is processed.
The invoices you get in November and December may show a premium amount of “unknown” instead of a dollar amount. If you already returned your renewal form, this means that it has not been processed yet or the agency is waiting for more information from you. If you have not returned your renewal form, you must return it by the due date or your eligibility will end December 31, 2016.
You must report certain changes to your county, tribal or MinnesotaCare worker within a certain number of days or you could lose your health care coverage. Failing to report a change also may be fraud and result in an overpayment of benefits, which you may have to pay back.
If you have MA, report a change within 10 days of the change. If you have MinnesotaCare, report a change within 30 days of the change.
Report all changes, including the following:
Where you live
Who lives with you
The people you list as dependents on your income taxes
