Medical Assistance is Minnesota’s state Medicaid program. It provides low-income state residents with free health care coverage for a variety of services such as primary care, inpatient hospital and ambulatory care, prescription medications and emergency transportation.
Medical Assistance helps senior citizens in a number of ways. While the state plan covers the cost of nursing home care and basic home health services, there are Medicaid waivers available to provide additional coverage for seniors who require long-term care, including assisted living.
To qualify for Medical Assistance as an elderly person, applicants must be 65 years of age or older and meet the program’s financial requirements. Individual applicants can have a maximum income of $1,012 per month and no more than $3,000 in countable assets, while married couples can have a monthly income of $1,372 and no more than $6,000 in assets.
Some assets are exempt, including the applicant’s home, vehicle, personal belongings and household furnishings.
To apply for Medical Assistance, seniors can call the Minnesota Health Care Programs help desk at (800) 657-3739.
Elderly Waiver
Seniors who require a nursing level of care and wish to avoid admission into a nursing home may be able to access care services through the Medical Assistance Elderly waiver. Covered services include skilled nursing, personal care, residential services, transitional counseling and specialized medical equipment and supplies.
To qualify for the Elderly waiver, applicants must be financially eligible for Medical Assistance. They must also be aged 65 or older and be assessed as needing care through the long-term care consultation process.
To apply for the Elderly waiver, seniors can contact the Senior LinkAge line at (800) 333-2433.
Community Access for Disability Inclusion Waiver
The CADI waiver provides assisted living and personal care services to disabled persons who require a nursing facility level of care. Under this waiver, participants are eligible to receive care in their own home, a caregiver’s home or an assisted living facility. The waiver may also cover transitional services, skilled nursing care, independent living skills training, family counseling and nonmedical transportation services.
Applicants must be aged 64 or younger when applying but can continue to receive coverage after reaching age 65.
To apply for the CADI waiver, applicants in Dakota County can contact the Minnesota Department of Human Services office in St. Paul at (651) 554-5742 or Apple Valley at (952) 891-7400.