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Health Care Programs

MNsure is Minnesota's health insurance marketplace.  MNsure was established in 2013 to assist Minnesota residents, either individuals or families, solo business owners, and employees of small businesses to obtain affordable health insurance plans.  Minnesotans can compare and choose coverage from multiple insurance companies, and see if they qualify for a low-cost or free plan.  MNsure is the new way of applying for Medical Assistance and other types of health care coverage.  
For information or to apply for MNsure:
* call the MNsure Contact Center toll free 1-855-3-MNSURE (1-855-366-7873) 
 
MinnesotaCare is a health care program for Minnesotans with low incomes. To find out whether you qualify for MinnesotaCare, you must apply. 
Enrollees get health care services through a health plan. You can choose your health plan from those serving MinnesotaCare enrollees in your county. 
MinnesotaCare is funded by a state tax on Minnesota hospitals and health care providers, federal Basic Health Program funding and enrollee premiums. 
 
Medical Assistance (MA) is Minnesota’s Medicaid program for people with low income. 
Most people who have MA get health care through health plans. You can choose a health plan from those serving MA members in your county. 
Members who do not get health care through a health plan get care on a fee-for-service basis, with providers billing the state directly for services they provide. 
MA is Minnesota's largest health care program and serves children and families, pregnant women, adults without children, seniors and people who are blind or have a disability. 
 
Long-Term Care (LTC) Services
LTC services include:
* Skilled nursing facility care you receive when you reside in a nursing facility.
* Services covered by any home and community-based waiver programs such as Elderly Waiver (EW) program.
 
Elderly Waiver (EW) - The EW program funds home and community-based services for people age 65 and older who are eligible for Medical Assistance (MA) and require the level of care provided in a nursing home but choose to live in the community.
 
Alternative Care (AC) - The AC program is a state-funded cost-sharing program that supports certain home- and community-based services for eligible Minnesotans age 65 and older. This program provides home- and community-based services to prevent and delay transitions to nursing facility level of care. The program prevents the impoverishment of eligible seniors and shares the cost of care with clients by maximizing use of their own resources. It is administered by counties and tribal health agencies.
 
Asset Assessment - An Asset Assessment is a list of all assets owned by a married couple on a certain date. A county worker uses the information to decide the amount of assets a person’s spouse can keep. The amount of assets will not count toward the asset limit for the person applying for Medical Assistance payment of long-term care (LTC) services. LTC services include nursing home care and services through the Elderly Waiver (EW) or Alternative Care (AC) program
 
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