Bridge to Benefits is a multi-state project by Children’s Defense Fund Minnesota to improve the well-being of families and individuals by linking them to public work support programs and tax credits.
To see if you or someone else may be eligible for public work support programs, click START to use the Eligibility Screening Tool. We will ask you a few simple questions but we will NOT ask you for information that identifies you. It's easy, confidential and free!
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Some children can now enroll in MinnesotaCare without premium payments or other insurance barriers
Effective July 1, 2012, children under the age of 21 in households with income under 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines ($37,104 for a family of 3) can enroll in MinnesotaCare with no premium payment and with no consideration of the four-month waiting period (which requires applicants to be without insurance for 4 calendar months) or the employer-sponsored insurance rule (which exempts MinnesotaCare coverage in some situations when employer-sponsored insurance is available). Until technology changes can be implemented at the Department of Human Services (anticipated in November 2012), families will still need to pay their MinnesotaCare premium payments but will be refunded those payments when the technology changes are implemented retroactive to July 1, 2012.
Healthy Minnesota Contribution Program becomes effective for some enrollees in MinnesotaCare for Adults without children
Effective July 1, 2012, adults without children in their household whose income falls between 200% and 250% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines will no longer be eligible for traditional, premium-based MinnesotaCare. They will be eligible for the newly established Healthy Minnesota Contribution Program which provides a monthly defined contribution amount to help enrollees purchase health insurance from private insurance companies. Enrollees are responsible for paying the difference between the defined contribution amount and the premium cost of the insurance plan they choose to purchase. The Department of Human Services will refer Healthy Minnesota Contribution Program enrollees to professional insurance agents who will help them choose a plan from the private insurance market. For more information on the Healthy Minnesota Contribution Plan, click here.
DHS launches online application
The Minnesota Department of Human Services launched ApplyMN,
an online application for Minnesota Health Care Programs, SNAP (food support),
Child Care Assistance, cash assistance, emergency assistance, family planning,
and breast and cervical cancer coverage. The application is available statewide
beginning April 30, 2012. Bridge to Benefits links to and from ApplyMN. Before
using ApplyMN, it is recommended to use the Bridge to Benefits screening tool
to determine your potential eligibility for programs included in ApplyMN and
other programs that may improve economically stability. For more information
about ApplyMN, click here.
Low-Cost Home Internet Services
Comcast and CenturyLink now offer low-cost internet services plan for $9.95 plus tax per month for qualifying low-income families. To be eligible for Comcast’s low-cost plan, you must have at least one child on the School Meal Program. To be eligible for CenturyLink’s low-cost plan, at least one household member must be on the School Meal Program or at least one of the qualifying work support programs. Other restrictions may apply. To find out more information or to get the application for this service click here for Comcast or click here for CenturyLink. Or call Comcast at 1-855-846-8376 and CenturyLink at 1-866-541-3330.
