Minn. Stat. §256B.057, subd. 9, Public Law 105-33

Medical Assistance for Employed Persons with Disabilities (MA-EPD): Minnesota Health Care Program (MHCP) that allows people with disabilities to qualify for or keep their Medical Assistance (MA) while working.

Fear of losing Medical Assistance (MA) prevents many people with disabilities from working. With MA-EPD, people can work, earn, save money and still keep their MA.

The MA-EPD program:

Support planning

When lead agency staff develop support plans for people they support, they must understand the connection between MA-EPD and other services/programs.

Employment

People who receive employment exploration or employment development services through a waiver can become eligible for MA-EPD when they start working.

People who receive employment support services through a waiver are usually eligible for MA-EPD.

MA-EPD also can help people who are interested in transitioning from sheltered employment to competitive, integrated employment keep their MA during that transition.

Housing

MA-EPD can help people who want to move out of a group housing setting into their own home keep their MA during that transition. Working and saving money on health care costs (if they have a spenddown) can help make their housing budget work.

To be eligible, a person must meet all of the following criteria:

1. Be certified disabled by either the Social Security Administration or the State Medical Review Team before age 65 (see DHS – Determining if you have a disability and DHS –FAQs about the State Medical Review Team)

2. Be employed and:

3. Live in Minnesota

4. Meet the $20,000 asset limit (see asset limit section)

5. Pay a monthly premium (see premiums section)

6. Pay an unearned income obligation, if required (see unearned income obligation section).

For more information, see DHS – MA-EPD.

MA-EPD covers the same services as regular MA. For a list of covered services, see the “benefits” tab on DHS – MA-EPD.

Assets are things a person owns. The asset limit for MA-EPD is $20,000. There is no asset limit for people younger than age 21.

The following assets do not count toward the limit:

People pay a monthly premium based on their income and household size. The lead agency calculates premiums based on a minimum of $35 or a sliding fee scale amount, whichever is greater. There is no maximum premium amount.

The Disability Benefits 101 (DB101) MA-EPD premium tool helps estimate a person’s monthly premium. DHS encourages lead agencies to use this tool and share it with people who are considering MA-EPD.

Note: Premiums are waived for people who have a verified American Indian or Alaska Native status.

In addition to the monthly premium, people who have unearned income (e.g., Social Security Disability) must pay one-half of one percent (1/2 percent) of their unearned income.

The unearned income obligation is included in monthly premium billing. The DB101 MA-EPD premium tool includes this additional cost in its calculation.

To apply, a person must complete the MHCP Application for Certain Populations, DHS-3876 (PDF) and return it with all required verifications to his/her lead agency.

If a person is unable to complete the full application, he/she can set the date MA-EPD coverage starts by completing Request to Apply for Minnesota Health Care Programs, DHS-3417B (PDF) and returning it to his/her lead agency.

The lead agency eligibility worker uses policies and procedures defined in MHCP Eligibility Policy Manual – Medical assistance for employed persons with disabilities to:

DHS bills and collects ongoing premiums.

Note: Program HH pays all MA-EPD premiums for people who are eligible for both programs.

When people are considering work (or changing their work), they need to know the effect it will have on their benefits. A person can receive benefits planning as part of waiver employment exploration, development and support services. Lead agencies also can reference and share the following resources with people who have questions:

The Disability Hub MN also has trained options counselors who can help people understand the effects of work on their benefits. For more information, see Disability Hub MN – Work or call 1-866-333-2466.