Minnesota MNsure Grandchild Coverage: Health Insurance for a Child in Kinship Care

MNsure Is the Portal, Medical Assistance Is the Coverage

When people say "get the grandchild on MNsure," what they usually mean is enrolling the child in Medical Assistance through the MNsure system. MNsure (mnsure.org) is Minnesota's health insurance marketplace — the online application portal. Medical Assistance (MA) is the actual coverage program the child will be enrolled in.

For kinship caregivers, this distinction matters because the application process routes differently depending on whether the child qualifies for MA (which is free) or MinnesotaCare (which has small monthly premiums). The vast majority of grandchildren in kinship care qualify for MA.

Why Most Kinship Children Qualify

Medical Assistance for children uses Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) rules. When a relative caregiver doesn't claim the child as a tax dependent, the child is assessed under tax non-filer rules. Under those rules, your income — your Social Security, your pension, your wages — is completely excluded.

Only the child's own income counts: trust payments, survivor benefits, or earnings. The eligibility limit is 283% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for children under age 2 and 275% for children ages 2–18. Since most grandchildren in kinship care have little or no personal income, they qualify comfortably.

What You Need to Apply

You don't need a court order, guardianship, or Delegation of Parental Authority to enroll the child. A relative caregiver with physical care and control can sign the application.

Bring:

• The child's birth certificate or other identity document
• The child's Social Security number
• Proof that the child lives with you in Minnesota
• Information about any income the child receives

You can apply online at mnsure.org, submit a paper application at your county human services office, or call MNsure directly at 1-855-366-7873.

Managed Care Enrollment

Once approved, the child is enrolled in a managed care health plan. In most Minnesota counties, you choose from plans like Blue Plus, UCare, HealthPartners, or Hennepin Health (in Hennepin County). Each plan assigns a primary care provider and gives access to specialists, prescriptions, behavioral health services, and dental care.

If you don't actively choose a plan, one is assigned. You can switch during open enrollment if the assigned plan doesn't work for your family.

What MA Covers

For children under 21, Medical Assistance covers:

• Primary care and specialist visits
• Emergency room and hospital care
• Prescription drugs
• Dental (preventive, restorative, and orthodontic evaluation)
• Behavioral health (counseling, therapy, psychiatric services)
• Vision care and eyeglasses

No copays, premiums, or deductibles for covered services for children under 21 enrolled in Medical Assistance.

Retroactive Coverage

If the child had medical expenses before you applied, MA can cover bills going back up to three calendar months before your application month. This catches the gap between when a child arrives in your care and when you get the paperwork sorted — doctor visits, prescriptions, or ER trips during that window may be reimbursable.

12-Month Continuous Eligibility

Once enrolled, coverage continues for a full 12 months regardless of minor household changes. You won't lose the child's insurance mid-year because your income fluctuated or your living situation shifted slightly.

Our Minnesota Kinship Financial Help Guide explains how to coordinate the MNsure health application with your MNbenefits applications for cash and food assistance — so everything is filed in the right sequence and the child's coverage starts as fast as possible.

See more Minnesota guides →