• Public programs: Medicare, Medical Assistance, Alternative Care, housing subsidy.

  

• Other in-home and community services available through senior centers and other agencies. Call the Senior LinkAge Line®® at 1-800-333-2433.

What is Medical Assistance?
Medical Assistance (MA) is a state health care program for disabled and elderly Minnesotans who have limited income and assets.

MA helps pay for health care costs not covered by Medicare or other payers. MA pays for certain home health services such as personal care, nursing services, and speech, physical and occupational therapies.

If you are 65 and older and participate in MA, you may receive home care services under regular MA home care or through the Elderly Waiver (EW) program.

What is Elderly Waiver?
Elderly Waiver helps cover the cost of services that are not available through regular Medical Assistance home care, including respite services, adult day services, homemaking and companion services.

To qualify for Elderly Waiver, a senior must go through a preadmission screening and be assigned a case manager (a county public health nurse or county social worker). The case manager will arrange services and monitor the participant’s well-being.

Am I eligible for Medical Assistance?
As of July 1, 1998, you are eligible for Medical Assistance if:

• You are a single person with a maximum of $487 a month in income and $3,000 or less in assets.
• You are a couple with a maximum of $583 a month in income and $6,000 or less in assets.

NOTE: The requirements for Medical Assistance may change, so please contact your county if you have any questions.

Eligibility information for a married couple in which one spouse lives at home and the other spouse lives in a nursing home is available through the Office of Ombudsman for Older Minnesotans. Call 1-800-657-3591 and ask for the "Medical Assistance for Nursing Home Care Tip Sheet."

What if I have too much income?
If you have an income that is more than the limit for MA eligibility, you may be able to "spend down."

A spend down is the amount of income in excess of the allowed monthly income mentioned above. For example, if your monthly income is $587 but medical expenses (such as medications, home health care, clinic bills, etc.) exceed $100, the person spends $100 for medical expenses and MA pays any additional approved medical expenses.

To apply for Medical Assistance, contact your county human services agency.

If you have questions about Medical Assistance, you may call the Office of Ombudsman for Older Minnesotans (651) 296-0382 or 1-800-657-3591.