Medical Assistance & Waivers

The place to get started with applying for Medical Assistance and waiver services in Minnesota is your county or tribal human services agency. Use the Minnesota Tribal and County Human Services Directory.

TEFRA (Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act option) lets children with disabilities qualify for MA, even if family income is too high. What Families Need to Know: Child must be under 19 and live with a parent. Child must be certified disabled by Social Security or SMRT. Only the child’s income is counted (not family income). No asset limit for children. Covers the same services as MA (doctor visits, prescriptions, PCA, therapies, etc.). Parental fees were eliminated in 2023 (except some out-of-home placements).

SMRT (State Medical Review Team) reviews medical records to decide if a child meets disability criteria for Medical Assistance (MA) and waiver services. How it works: Apply for Medical Assistance at your county or tribal human services office. If your child’s disability needs to be certified, the county will refer your case to SMRT. SMRT will ask for medical, school, and therapy records. They decide if your child meets disability standards (similar to Social Security). A disability certification is issued and is valid for 1–7 years (for children typically shorter, often 1–4 years).

MnCHOICES is an in-person assessment used by counties and tribal human services offices to determine what services and supports a child or adult with a disability may be eligible for. How it works: Request a MnCHOICES assessment through your county or tribal human services office. A certified assessor meets with the individual (and family, if applicable) to gather information about daily needs, health, and supports. The assessor provides a summary of the findings and discusses potential services. A support plan is created outlining the services and supports the individual may receive. By law, the assessment must be completed within 20 working days of the request. However, some families have reported longer wait times due to staffing shortages and high demand

Home and Community-Based Waivers are Medical Assistance (MA) programs that help children and adults with disabilities live at home or in the community instead of in an institution. Minnesota offers several waivers for children, including the Developmental Disabilities (DD), Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI), Community Alternative Care (CAC), and Brain Injury (BI) waivers. To qualify, families need: Medical Assistance (MA) eligibility (through income, TEFRA, or other MA programs) Disability certification, either through Social Security or the State Medical Review Team (SMRT) A MnCHOICES assessment through the county or tribal human services office, which determines waiver eligibility and service needs Services may include: personal supports, respite, assistive technology, home modifications, and other community-based supports.

A free statewide resource that helps people with disabilities and their families navigate services, benefits, work, and housing options.

Information about Medical Assistance and MN Choices assessment.

On-Demand Webinar from Family Voices of MN.

MinnesotaCare is a health care program for Minnesotans with low incomes