This article is a section taken from Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP), a part of the revisions and additions to the Minnesota Health Care Program Eligibility Policy Manual.

Application Submission

Who Can File an Application

  • An application filer may file an application for Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP). An application filer includes the following people:

  • An adult who is in the applicant’s Medical Assistance (MA), MinnesotaCare, or tax household

  • An applicant’s minor parents who are in the applicant’s tax or MA household

  • The applicant’s spouse

  • An authorized representative. See the MHCP Authorized Representative policy for more information.

  • A minor who is applying for coverage who does not live with a parent, legal guardian, or an adult acting responsibly for the minor and who will not be claimed as a tax dependent

  • People acting responsibly for a child under the age of 18 including:

    • An adult who lives with the child and who assumes primary responsibility for the minor

    • A social services professional who is not an authorized representative or legal custodian

    • Both custodial and non-custodial parents may file an application on behalf of a child. However, to have MA eligibility determined the child must apply with the parent with whom they live.

  • People acting responsibly for an incapacitated individual

Responsibilities of the Application Filer

Application filers:

  • May report changes on behalf of an applicant or enrollee.

  • May respond to requests for information regarding any person in their MA, MinnesotaCare, or tax household.

  • May make all attestations required for a determination on behalf of an applicant.

  • May attest to the joint filing status of their spouse.

  • May sign and return the annual renewal notice on an enrollee’s behalf.

Application Filer and Change in Circumstances

After an application is submitted, the application filer may change due to a change in circumstance. Changes in circumstance that could cause the application filer to change include the application filer’s death or the application filer leaves the household. In these cases, a new person must assume the role and responsibilities of the application filer for that household’s application.

Assistance with the Application

A person can choose anyone to help them with an application or renewal. However, only a person meeting the definition of an application filer or an authorized representative can submit the application or renewal on behalf of the applicant. The person is only able to sign the application or renewal if they are the application filer or authorized representative.

Legal Citations

Code of Federal Regulations, title 26, section 1.36B-1
Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, section 435.603
Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, section 435.907
Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, section 435.908
Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, section 155.20
Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, section 155.300
Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, section 155.305
Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, section 155.310
Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, section 155.315
Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, section 155.330
Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, section 155.335

CREDIT: The content of this post has been copied or adopted from the Minnesota Healthcare Programs Eligibility Policy Manual, originally published by the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

This is also part of a series of posts on Minnesota Healthcare Eligibility Policies.