Medicaid in Minnesota: what you may be able to apply for

🔎 Will this affect your green card?

Regular Medicaid does NOT count in the public charge test — receiving it does not affect your green card or immigration application. See details →

What it is

Public health insurance for low-income people, jointly funded by the federal and state governments. It covers doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, pregnancy, and children's care. States run it under federal rules, and each state has its own name and details (California calls it Medi-Cal).

Medical Assistance (MA, Minnesota's Medicaid program)

Who may qualify

Income limit

Adults 19-64 (ACA expansion)≤ 138% FPLThe state (DHS Eligibility Policy Manual) states 133% FPG for adults without children and for parents/caretaker relatives; with the ACA 5% income disregard it reaches about 138% FPG.
Adults/families (via MinnesotaCare)≤ 200% FPLMinnesotaCare is Minnesota's state Basic Health Program, covering residents with income up to 200% FPG who do not qualify for MA; it charges a small monthly premium based on income. Income above 200% FPG makes a person ineligible for MinnesotaCare. Lawfully present noncitizens and DACA grantees can enroll; undocumented children under 18 are covered through state-funded MinnesotaCare (see the immigrant rules).
Infants under 2≤ 283% FPLInfants (under 2) are covered by MA up to 283% FPG; infants with income between 275% and 283% FPG who are not enrolled in other health insurance are covered through CHIP-funded MA (see the CHIP entry).
Children 2 through 18≤ 275% FPLChildren 2 through 18 are covered by MA up to 275% FPG. Those 19 and 20 fall under the adult 133% FPG line. 🌟 Undocumented children under 18 are covered through state-funded MinnesotaCare regardless of status (see the immigrant rules).
Pregnancy≤ 278% FPLPregnant people are covered by MA up to 278% FPG. 🌟 Pregnant people who are undocumented or otherwise not eligible for MA can be covered through CHIP-funded MA during pregnancy and the 12-month postpartum period, regardless of immigration status (see the immigrant rules).

Immigration-status rules in this state

Minnesota adopted the ACA Medicaid expansion, giving Medical Assistance (MA, Minnesota's Medicaid) to income-eligible adults 19-64 (up to 133% FPG; effectively about 138% with the ACA 5% income disregard). Minnesota also runs MinnesotaCare, a state Basic Health Program that covers people with income up to 200% FPG who do not qualify for MA. Immigrant scope depends on the group. (1) Lawfully present noncitizens, and DACA grantees, can apply for MA or MinnesotaCare under the state rules; Lawful Permanent Residents generally face the federal 5-year waiting period for full MA, but MinnesotaCare and other paths may apply. (2) 🌟 Undocumented children (under 18): covered through MinnesotaCare regardless of immigration status — this coverage is state-funded and delivered fee-for-service (FFS). (3) 🌟 Pregnant people who are undocumented or otherwise not eligible for MA: covered through CHIP-funded MA during pregnancy and the 12-month postpartum period, regardless of immigration status. (4) 🔴 Undocumented adults (18 and older): Minnesota briefly opened MinnesotaCare to undocumented adults on January 1, 2025, but the 2025 Legislature reversed it — beginning June 15, 2025 MinnesotaCare stopped accepting undocumented applicants 18 or older, and MinnesotaCare eligibility and coverage for all undocumented adults 18+ ended December 31, 2025. From January 1, 2026, undocumented enrollees who turn 18 lose MinnesotaCare at the end of their birthday month. So today an undocumented adult (18+, not pregnant) qualifies for neither MinnesotaCare nor full MA; the remaining option is Emergency Medical Assistance (EMA), which covers emergency care regardless of status. 🔴 Do not assume undocumented-adult coverage still exists — this changed. This is a changing area — rely on the latest official Minnesota DHS guidance.

How to apply

What you'll need

Proof of identity, income, Minnesota residency, and household size; immigration documents as applicable. Coverage for children under 18 and pregnant people is not denied for lack of satisfactory immigration status (through state-funded MinnesotaCare / CHIP-funded MA). See the official MNsure / DHS application for the exact document list.

Timeline

Under federal Medicaid rules, an eligibility decision is generally made within 45 days (up to 90 days for disability-based cases); retroactive coverage for up to 3 months before the application month. Confirm MN-specific timing with the official program.

Go to the official application →

MNsure (official online application) · also via your county or Tribal human services office

Will it affect your green card? (Public charge)

✅ Regular Medicaid does NOT count in the public charge test — receiving it does not affect your green card or immigration application.

⚠️ The one exception: Medicaid that pays for long-term institutional care (a long-term stay in a nursing facility or mental-health institution at government expense) DOES count. Everyday doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, and home- and community-based care are not this exception.

➕ Because the current rule excludes all non-institutional Medicaid, Medicaid for children, pregnancy, and emergencies also does not count. In mixed-status families, eligible citizen or qualified children can safely get the care they qualify for.

Public charge is assessed only for people applying for an immigrant visa abroad, or applying for adjustment of status (a green card) inside the United States.

Many categories are exempt by law: refugees, asylees, VAWA self-petitioners, T and U visa applicants, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), Special Immigrant Juveniles (SIJ), Cuban/Haitian entrants, and others.

Public charge is generally not assessed when a green-card holder renews their card or naturalizes; a returning green-card holder is assessed only in limited cases (for example, an absence of more than 180 days).

This is information only, not immigration, legal, or tax advice. Public charge and your personal status are complex — consult a licensed immigration attorney. We never tell you whether you "will" or "won't" be affected.

USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 8, Part G, Chapter 7 (benefits considered) and Chapter 3 (who it applies to) — 8 USCIS-PM G.7 / G.3; regulation 8 CFR 212.21–212.23; 2022 final rule 87 FR 55472. · 2022-12-23

Last checked: 2026-07-21

Policies can change — always check the latest official information.

This site is informational only and is not immigration, legal, or tax advice. For public charge and your personal status questions, consult a licensed immigration attorney.

Other benefits in Minnesota

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, "food stamps")

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