How to renew your Minnesota Medicaid coverage

Last verified: June 2026

Renewal notices come from Medical Assistance (Minnesota Medicaid)

Always respond to official renewal notices from Medical Assistance (Minnesota Medicaid). Missing a renewal deadline is the most common reason people lose Medicaid coverage — even when they're still eligible.

Minnesota had among the lowest pandemic unwinding disenrollment rates in the country

When continuous enrollment protections ended in 2023, Minnesota's strong ex parte renewal infrastructure — which automatically renews coverage using data already in state systems — helped reduce the number of Minnesotans who lost MA coverage through procedural disenrollment. KFF data showed MN's unwinding loss rate was below the national median. Keeping your address current with DHS is the most important thing you can do to ensure renewal notices reach you.

When and how Medical Assistance is renewed

Medical Assistance is renewed annually. Minnesota DHS reviews your eligibility once a year — this is called a redetermination. Before your renewal date, you will receive a notice from DHS asking you to confirm your information or report any changes.

Minnesota prioritizes ex parte renewal: DHS checks data from other state and federal databases — such as income records from the Minnesota Department of Revenue and Social Security Administration — before sending a renewal form to you. If DHS can confirm your eligibility from existing data, your coverage renews without requiring you to do anything. You will receive a notice telling you your coverage has been renewed.

If DHS cannot confirm your eligibility from existing data, they will mail a renewal form. You must return it within the specified time — typically 30 days — to keep your coverage. Failing to respond can result in termination, though you have the right to appeal.

How to renew your Medical Assistance

Online through MNsure at mnsure.org — log into your account and respond to your renewal notice
By returning the paper renewal form mailed to you, with any updated information filled in
By phone through your county social services office or by calling 1-800-657-3739
In person at your county or tribal office

Respond to renewal notices promptly. If you receive a renewal form and don't return it in time, your coverage will end. You can request a new application if this happens, but there may be a gap in coverage.

Reporting changes during the year

You are required to report certain changes to DHS or your county office within 10 days of when they happen. Changes that must be reported include:

Moving to a new address — this is critical because renewal notices go to your address on file
A change in income of more than $100 per month
Getting or losing other health insurance coverage
Changes in household size — new family members, someone moving in or out
A change in your immigration status

Report changes online at mnsure.org, by calling your county, or in writing. Updating your address is especially important — if renewal mail is returned undeliverable, DHS may terminate your coverage without you realizing it.

If your coverage ends — appeal rights and reapplication

If your Medical Assistance is terminated, you will receive a notice explaining the reason. You have the right to request a fair hearing (an appeal) within 90 days of the notice date. If you appeal within 10 days, your coverage may continue while the appeal is pending.

If you lost coverage because of a missed renewal notice — particularly during the 2023–2024 unwinding period — and believe you are still eligible, reapply immediately. Coverage gaps during unwinding were often the result of administrative issues, not actual changes in eligibility.

Post-pandemic coverage losses: the 2023–2024 unwinding

During the COVID-19 public health emergency (March 2020 through March 2023), federal law prohibited states from removing people from Medicaid. When that protection ended, states conducted a mass redetermination of all enrolled members — known as the "unwinding." Millions of people lost coverage nationally between April 2023 and late 2024, many due to administrative reasons like outdated addresses rather than actual ineligibility. If you lost Minnesota Medicaid during that period without receiving a renewal notice, you may still be eligible. Contact Medical Assistance (Minnesota Medicaid) to reapply.

How to complete your renewal

When Medical Assistance (Minnesota Medicaid) sends a renewal notice, here's what to do:

1

Read the notice carefully

Identify exactly what the agency is asking for and the deadline to respond. Renewal packets may ask you to confirm your current income, household size, or address.
2

Update your information

If anything has changed — income, address, phone number, household members — report it now. Outdated contact information is the leading cause of missed renewal notices.
3

Submit the renewal online, by phone, or by mail

Medical Assistance (Minnesota Medicaid)'s online portal is typically the fastest way to complete a renewal. You may also call the enrollment line or mail in your completed packet.
4

Confirm your coverage continued

After submitting, confirm you receive a notice that coverage was renewed. If you don't hear back within a few weeks, call Medical Assistance (Minnesota Medicaid) to verify your status.

If your renewal is denied

A denial must state the reason in writing and explain your right to appeal. You have 90 days from the date of the notice to request a fair hearing. File the appeal quickly — if you appeal before your coverage ends, you may be able to continue coverage during the appeal period, though this depends on timing and the reason for denial.

Common renewal denials include: income that increased above the threshold, failure to respond to the renewal packet, a change in household size that affects eligibility, or immigration status questions. Some of these can be addressed by reapplying with updated information rather than appealing.

Contact Medical Assistance (Minnesota Medicaid) within the 90-day window. A reconsideration or new application filed promptly can often restore coverage retroactively to the date it was lost.

Keeping your account information up to date

The most effective way to avoid renewal problems is to report changes promptly. Federal rules require Medicaid enrollees to report changes that may affect eligibility within a specified period — typically 10 to 30 days depending on the state.

Changes to report: new job or income change, move to a new address, change in household size (new baby, someone moves in or out), gaining or losing other health coverage. Contact Medical Assistance (Minnesota Medicaid) or update your information through the online portal at https://mn.gov/dhs/people-we-serve/children-and-families/health-care/medical-assistance/.