Minnesota Medicaid Application Checklist for Long-Term Care
Before You File: The Two-Track System
Minnesota runs two parallel eligibility tracks for long-term care Medical Assistance, and applying for the wrong one delays everything. The clinical track determines whether the applicant medically qualifies for nursing facility-level care, assessed through MnCHOICES. The financial track determines whether the applicant's income and assets fall within limits. Both must be satisfied, and the local county or tribal lead agency coordinates the process.
Start both tracks simultaneously. Request a MnCHOICES assessment from the county or tribal human services agency; the lead agency must visit the applicant within 20 working days while the financial application packet is assembled.
The Application Form
For nursing home or Elderly Waiver coverage, file Form DHS-3531 — Application for Payment of Long-Term-Care Services. This is a paper form submitted to the local county or tribal human services agency, not through MNsure. MNsure handles general health coverage (Form DHS-6696); long-term care applications bypass that system.
If the applicant also needs the Supplement for Certain Populations (Form DHS-6696B), submit it alongside the DHS-3531. The supplement captures additional asset and disability information that the main form doesn't cover.
Documents to Gather Before Filing
Prepare the following. Having them ready at submission can prevent back-and-forth that stretches the 45-to-90-day processing window.
Identity and legal authority:
- Government-issued photo ID for the applicant
- Social Security card or award letter
- Power of attorney documents — the agent filing on behalf of the applicant needs a durable financial POA with explicit authority
- Health care directive, if one exists
Income verification:
- Social Security benefit letter (the most recent SSA-1099 or benefit verification letter)
- Pension and retirement account distribution statements
- Any annuity income documentation
- VA benefit letters, if applicable — Minnesota counts VA Aid & Attendance as income for Medical Assistance, unlike most states
Asset documentation:
- Recent bank statements for every checking, savings, money market, and brokerage account, with records covering the 60-month lookback available for review
- Retirement account (IRA, 401(k)) statements with current balances
- Life insurance policies with cash surrender values
- Vehicle titles and registration
- Real estate deeds, property tax statements, and mortgage statements
- Trust documents, if any
For married applicants:
- All of the above for both spouses
- Documentation to support the asset assessment date (the first day of a continuous period of institutionalization or waiver service lasting 30+ days)
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Where to File
Submit the packet to the county or tribal human services agency identified by the local lead agency. Each of Minnesota's 87 counties and 11 tribal agencies has its own office. Minnesota Aging Pathways (formerly the Senior LinkAge Line) at 1-800-333-2433 can direct you to the correct office.
What Happens After Filing
The county reviews financial eligibility and typically issues a determination within 45 to 90 days. During that window the county may:
- Run the Asset Verification Service to verify financial accounts electronically
- Review transfers during the 60-month lookback period and request supporting bank statements or other records as needed
- Schedule the formal spousal asset assessment if the applicant is married
- Coordinate with the MnCHOICES assessor to confirm clinical eligibility
Medical Assistance can be backdated up to three months before the application month, so even if processing takes time, coverage may apply retroactively to costs already incurred — provided the applicant was financially and clinically eligible during that period.
Common Filing Mistakes
The biggest delays come from incomplete packets. Missing a bank statement or forgetting to include the spouse's retirement account can trigger a request for additional information and delay the review. The second most common mistake: filing through MNsure instead of submitting DHS-3531 directly to the county or tribal agency.
The Minnesota Medicaid Long-Term Care Guide includes a pre-submission checklist with every required document organized by category, plus the MnCHOICES preparation checklist to run both tracks in parallel.
Get Your Free Minnesota — Medicaid Long-Term Care Eligibility Checklist
Download the Minnesota — Medicaid Long-Term Care Eligibility Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.