1997 Minnesota Statutes

     256L.08 Premiums. 

    Subdivision 1.    Premium determination.  Each 
 individual or family enrolled in the MinnesotaCare program shall 
 pay a premium determined according to a sliding fee based on the 
 cost of coverage as a percentage of the individual's or family's 
 gross family income. 

    Subd. 2.    Sliding scales to determine percentage of 
 gross family income.  The commissioner shall establish sliding 
 scales to determine the percentage of gross family income that 
 households at different income levels must pay to obtain 
 coverage through the MinnesotaCare program.  The sliding scale 
 must be based on the enrollee's gross family income, as defined 
 in section 256L.01, subdivision 4, during the previous four 
 months.  The sliding scale must provide separate sliding scales 
 for individuals, two-person households, and households of three 
 or more. 

    Subd. 3.    Sliding scales after June 30, 1993.  
 Beginning July 1, 1993, the sliding scales begin with a premium 
 of 1.5 percent of gross family income for individuals with 
 incomes below the limits for the medical assistance program set 
 at 133-1/3 percent of the AFDC payment standard and proceed 
 through the following evenly spaced steps:  1.8, 2.3, 3.1, 3.8, 
 4.8, 5.9, 7.4, and 8.8.  These percentages are matched to evenly 
 spaced income steps ranging from the medical assistance income 
 limit to a gross monthly income of $1,600 for an individual, 
 $2,160 for a household of two, $2,720 for a household of three, 
 $3,280 for a household of four, and $3,840 for a household of 
 five or more persons.  

    Subd. 4.    Ineligibility.  Families with children whose 
 gross monthly income is above the amount specified in 
 subdivision 3 are not eligible for the plan.  An individual or 
 households with no children whose gross family income is greater 
 than the amount specified in section 256L.04, subdivision 7, are 
 ineligible for the plan. 

    Subd. 5.    Premium collection through wage withholding. 
  The premium for coverage under the MinnesotaCare program may 
 be collected through wage withholding with the consent of the 
 employer and the employee. 

    Subd. 6.    Exclusion from chapter 14.  The sliding fee 
 scale and percentages are not subject to the provisions of 
 chapter 14. 

    Subd. 7.    Minimum premium payment.  Beginning with 
 premium payments due on or after July 1, 1995, the commissioner 
 shall require all MinnesotaCare enrollees to pay a minimum 
 premium of $4 per month. 

    HIST: 1986 c 444; 1992 c 549 art 4 s 9,19; 1993 c 247 art 4 s 
 11; 1994 c 625 art 8 s 72; art 13 s 5; 1995 c 234 art 6 s 14-16; 
 1997 c 225 art 1 s 13