Minnesota Senior Care Plus (MSC+) — Eligibility, Benefits, and How It Differs from MSHO

What Is Minnesota Senior Care Plus?

Minnesota Senior Care Plus (MSC+) is a managed care program that delivers Medical Assistance benefits to seniors who are not enrolled in Medicare — or who decline voluntary enrollment in Minnesota Senior Health Options (MSHO). Once your parent is approved for Medical Assistance, managed care enrollment is mandatory in most Minnesota counties. MSC+ is the default pathway for seniors whose Medicare status does not qualify them for the integrated MSHO model.

Under MSC+, a managed care organization coordinates your parent's Medical Assistance benefits: physician visits, prescription drugs, home health services, durable medical equipment, and — if the Elderly Waiver is active — Customized Living Services in a participating memory care facility.

MSC+ vs. MSHO — The Key Difference

The distinction comes down to Medicare integration:

• MSHO integrates both Medicare and Medical Assistance under a single managed care plan. One card, one care coordinator, one set of rules. Your parent must be dual-eligible — enrolled in both Medicare Parts A and B and Medical Assistance — and enrollment is voluntary
• MSC+ covers Medical Assistance benefits only. If your parent has Medicare, those benefits are administered separately through their existing Medicare plan. If your parent does not have Medicare at all, MSC+ is the only managed care pathway

For families managing dementia care, the practical difference matters. Under MSHO, the care coordinator has authority over the full spectrum of benefits — medical, behavioral, long-term care — and can authorize services across both programs without cross-referral delays. Under MSC+, Medicare-covered services and Medical Assistance-covered services are managed by different entities, which can create coordination gaps.

How to Choose Between MSHO and MSC+

If your parent is dual-eligible, the choice is between MSHO (voluntary, integrated) and MSC+ (default, MA-only). MSHO generally offers a more streamlined experience because the care coordinator manages everything in one plan. However, enrolling in MSHO means giving up a standalone Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan — and for some families, the existing Medicare plan covers specialists or facilities that the MSHO network does not include.

Contact Minnesota Aging Pathways at 1-800-333-2433 for a side-by-side plan comparison. The counselors can pull up the networks for MSHO plans available in your parent's county and help you evaluate whether integration is worth the tradeoff.

The Care Coordinator Under MSC+

Whether your parent enrolls in MSHO or MSC+, the managed care organization assigns a Care Coordinator — a registered nurse or licensed social worker. The Care Coordinator conducts a Health Risk Assessment within 30 days of enrollment, establishes the Coordinated Services and Supports Plan, and authorizes care services.

The Care Coordinator is the most valuable person in the system for families managing dementia care. They can authorize additional in-home services, resolve billing disputes with memory care facilities, arrange medical transportation, and connect your family with respite care. Families who use the Care Coordinator proactively — rather than waiting for the coordinator to reach out — consistently navigate the system more effectively.

Next Steps

The Minnesota Dementia Care Guide covers how MSHO, MSC+, and the Elderly Waiver interact — including how to coordinate managed care enrollment with your parent's memory care facility placement and how to use the Care Coordinator to authorize the services your parent needs.

See more Minnesota guides →