---
id: "epm:2.3.5.2.1"
source: "Minnesota Health Care Programs Eligibility Policy Manual"
source_short: "EPM"
publisher: "Minnesota Department of Human Services"
section: "2.3.5.2.1"
title: "Bases of Eligibility"
breadcrumb: "2 Medical Assistance > 2.3 Medical Assistance for People Who Are Age 65 or Older and People Who Are Blind or Have a Disability > 2.3.5  > 2.3.5.2 Non-Financial Eligibility > 2.3.5.2.1 Bases of Eligibility"
effective_date: 2025-03-26
last_modified: 2026-10-03T03:58:41.599036+00:00
version: 2
url: "https://bot-corpus.mn-dhs.online/s/epm/2.3.5.2.1"
official_origin: "https://hcopub.dhs.state.mn.us/epm/2_3_5_2_1.htm"
legal_citations:
  - "Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.057"
---
# EPM 2.3.5.2.1 Bases of Eligibility

In general, MA for Employed Persons with Disabilities (MA-EPD) follows the MA for People Who Are Age 65 or Older and People Who Are Blind or Have a Disability (MA-ABD) non-financial eligibility policies. People must be certified disabled and use the disabled or blind basis of eligibility to enroll in MA-EPD. Disability or blindness must be certified by the Social Security Administration (SSA) or the State Medical Review Team (SMRT).

## Changing Basis of Eligibility after Job Loss

When an MA-EPD enrollee stops working other than during a four-month job loss or four-month medical leave, or no longer meets the work requirements, their eligibility must be redetermined under another MA basis of eligibility. If the MA-EPD enrollee is redetermined eligible under an MA-ABD basis, the enrollee is eligible for MA-ABD with no asset limit for 12 consecutive months. Standard MA-ABD asset limits and policies apply after the 12 months. If during the12 consecutive months of no asset limit the enrollee loses MA-ABD eligibility for one month or more, the MA-ABD asset limit applies to all subsequent months and MA-ABD eligibility determinations.

## Changing Basis of Eligibility after Age 65

Some MA-EPD income and asset rules continue to apply when redetermining basic MA eligibility for an enrollee, age 65 or older, who loses eligibility for MA-EPD for any reason and who was enrolled in MA-EPD during each of the 24 consecutive months before their 65th birthday.

When redetermining MA-ABD eligibility under these circumstances:
- The income of a spouse is not deemed to the person
- The assets of a spouse are not deemed to the person

MA-EPD enrollees who are redetermined eligible for MA for People Age 65 or Older will qualify for MA-ABD with no asset limit for up to 12 months, followed by MA-ABD eligibility with an asset limit of $20,000. This will apply to MA-EPD enrollees who:
- become ineligible for MA-EPD at age 65 or older because they have stopped working or no longer meet work requirements, and
- were enrolled in MA-EPD for the 24 consecutive months before turning age 65.

In addition to the asset limit of $20,000, the following assets will remain excluded for MA-EPD enrollees who meet the criteria above and are determined eligible for MA-ABD after turning 65:
- Retirement accounts including:
  - Individual retirement accounts (IRA), including IRAs held in the form of annuity
  - 401(k) plans
  - 403(b) plans
  - Keogh plans
  - Pension plans
- Medical expense accounts set up through an employer, including Health Savings Accounts (HAS)
- Spousal assets, including the spouse’s share of jointly held assets

Asset limits still apply to Medicare Savings Programs. See [4.2.3.1 MSP Assets](https://bot-corpus.mn-dhs.online/s/epm/4.2.3.1) for more information.

## Redetermination Under All Bases

Eligibility must be redetermined under all bases, including MA with a spenddown, when MA-EPD eligibility ends for any reason (for example, non-payment of a premium). MA-EPD eligibility and coverage is not continued while eligibility is being redetermined for any month in which a premium was not paid.

## Legal Citations

- Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.057