Health Care Eligibility and Access Training

MA Fundamentals - Citizenship
Section 5 - Page 1 of 6

Providing Verification of Immigration Status

As mentioned earlier, a noncitizen applicant must provide immigration status and date of entry into the U.S.

As a worker, you need:

Verification of a noncitizen's immigration status - unless the person is undocumented.

Verification of income and assets of sponsors.

Information regarding household members receiving care and services from the Center for Victims of Torture, if not otherwise eligible for MA.

When an applicant provides an expired USCIS document or doesn't submit a copy of the USCIS documentation, request verification. If appropriate, refer the person to the local USCIS district office, following directions in the Health Care Programs Manual.

Graphic of a man waiting for a phone call
Eligibility While Verification is Pending

An applicant who cannot present documentation, or presents an expired USCIS document, can be put on a health care program provisionally. This only applies to applicants or enrollees who claim a status under which they would qualify for health care program eligibility.

Immigration status verification must be provided within 90 days of the request.

What should you do if an applicant fails to provide proper documentation within two months of the request for verification?

Send a reminder letter, the Minnesota Health Care Programs Request for Information (DHS-3271) may be used, stating the following:

USCIS documentation is necessary for continued MA eligibility.
Eligibility will be closed within 30 days if the verification is not received.

If verification of immigration status is not received within 30 days of the date of the reminder letter, close health care coverage for the next available month. However, do not close coverage for enrollees who document that they have requested the verification from USCIS but have not yet received it.