St. Paul, MN — Beginning October 1, new federal restrictions will cause many lawfully present Minnesotans, including refugees, asylees, trafficking survivors, and Afghan and Ukrainian humanitarian parolees, to lose eligibility for Medical Assistance. Minnesota DHS has identified approximately 200 people receiving Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver services and approximately 180 receiving Personal Care Assistance (PCA) or Community First Services and Supports (CFSS) services who will be directly affected.
“People who came to this country legally are being kicked off Medicaid. Refugees, people granted asylum, trafficking survivors, and humanitarian parolees who depend on Medical Assistance are now at risk of losing essential care,” said Rep. Mohamud Noor (DFL - Minneapolis), Co-Chair of the House Human Services Committee. “For seniors and people with disabilities, this is not simply a change in insurance coverage. Some Minnesotans could lose the personal care and long-term services that allow them to remain safely in their homes and live independently. Minnesota must do everything possible to protect continuity of care, make sure affected residents understand their options, and use every administrative and legislative tool available to prevent dangerous gaps in essential services. Republicans blocked our efforts this session to protect Minnesotans from the worst impacts of these federal cuts, and we will continue fighting for those protections.”
The impact will extend to seniors as well. Beginning in January 2027, certain lawfully present immigrants will lose Medicare eligibility, including people who have worked and paid Medicare taxes for years.
MinnesotaCare may provide an important coverage option for some Minnesotans, but it cannot replace every service they are losing, particularly Home and Community-Based Services and other long-term services and supports. Emergency Medical Assistance may provide limited coverage for certain nursing facilities or PCA/CFSS services, but it does not cover waiver services.
“While health care prices continue to skyrocket and Republicans keep cutting access to coverage, Donald Trump and the GOP are squeezing even more people out of the care and services they count on to live healthy lives,” said House DFL Floor Leader Jamie Long. “Hundreds of Minnesotans with lawful status – including refugees, asylees, and survivors of trafficking or domestic abuse – will be forced off of their Medical Assistance coverage and potentially face dangerous gaps in their care. Here in Minnesota, we will continue pushing back against these cruel cuts and do everything we can so members of our communities can have the care they depend on.”
For seniors and people with disabilities who depend on continuous medical care, personal care, home and community-based services, or other essential supports, losing coverage is not simply an administrative change. Interruptions in medically necessary care can lead to serious health complications, hospitalization, institutionalization, and in the most severe cases, death.
###