1997 Minnesota Statutes

     256L.15 Premiums. 

    Subdivision 1.    Premium determination.  Families and 
 children enrolled according to sections 256L.13 to 256L.16 shall 
 pay a premium determined according to a sliding fee based on the 
 cost of coverage as a percentage of the family's gross family 
 income.  Pregnant women and children under age two are exempt 
 from the provisions of section 256L.06, subdivision 3, clause 
 (3), requiring disenrollment for failure to pay premiums.  For 
 pregnant women, this exemption continues until the first day of 
 the month following the 60th day postpartum.  Women who remain 
 enrolled during pregnancy or the postpartum period, despite 
 nonpayment of premiums, shall be disenrolled on the first of the 
 month following the 60th day postpartum for the penalty period 
 that otherwise applies under section 256L.06. 

    Subd. 2.    Sliding scale to determine percentage of gross 
 family income.  The commissioner shall establish a sliding fee 
 scale 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 fee 
 scale must be based on the enrollee's gross family income during 
 the previous four months.  The sliding fee scale begins with a 
 premium of 1.5 percent of gross family income for families with 
 incomes below the limits for the medical assistance program for 
 families and children and proceeds through the following evenly 
 spaced steps:  1.8, 2.3, 3.1, 3.8, 4.8, 5.9, 7.4, and 8.8 
 percent.  These percentages are matched to evenly spaced income 
 steps ranging from the medical assistance income limit for 
 families and children to 275 percent of the federal poverty 
 guidelines for the applicable family size.  The sliding fee 
 scale and percentages are not subject to the provisions of 
 chapter 14.  If a family reports increased income after 
 enrollment, premiums shall not be adjusted until eligibility 
 renewal.  

    Subd. 3.    Exceptions to sliding scale.  An annual 
 premium of $48 is required for all children who are eligible 
 according to section 256L.13, subdivision 4.  

    HIST: 1995 c 234 art 6 s 20