Refugee Medical Assistance Program 510-05-95-20

(Revised 3/1/20 (ML #3575)

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  1. The Refugee Medical Assistance Program (RMA) provides health care coverage for legally admitted refugees who are not eligible for Medicaid, including the Option Children's Group.
  2. The Refugee Medical Assistance Program (RMA) is available during the first eight months a refugee is in the United States or the first eight months after an asylee has been granted asylum.
  3. A refugee who meets all Medicaid eligibility criteria, including need, must be enrolled in Medicaid instead of the Refugee Medical Assistance Program (RMA).

    A refugee does not meet the technical requirements to be eligible for Medicaid and has no medical "need", which equals or exceeds client share (recipient liability), can be enrolled in the RMA program.

  4. Eligibility under Refugee Medical Assistance Program (RMA) is limited to the following:
  1. Asylee's are limited to eight months of coverage under the Refugee Medical Assistance Program (RMA). The date an asylee is granted asylum (regardless of the actual date of entry) is considered the date the asylee entered the country and is the first month of the eight-month period.
  2. Other legally admitted refugees are limited to eight months of coverage under the Refugee Medical Assistance Program (RMA). Legally admitted refugees who want continued medical coverage must have their eligibility determined under Medicaid, including Expansion or Option Children's Group.
  1. Eligibility for Refugee Medical Assistance is determined using medically needy income and asset methodologies and limits, except:
  1. Legally admitted refugees who receive a refugee cash assistance payment (administered through Lutheran Social Services) and who are not otherwise eligible for Medicaid, including Expansion or Optional Children's Group are eligible for Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) without regard to any other eligibility tests;
  2. Legally admitted refugees who are determined eligible for Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) continue to be eligible without regard to increases in earned income until the end of the eight-month period; and
  3. Legally admitted refugees who are determined eligible for Medicaid and become eligible for Medicaid during the first eight months in the country due to increased earnings must be transferred to the RMA program without any eligibility determination/re-determination. Any earned income will not affect their RMA eligibility for the remainder of the 8-month period.
  1. A legally admitted refugee who has income above the medically needy income level will have a client share. Because increases in income do not affect eligibility, the client share will remain the same for the duration of the RMA eligibility, except that the client share can decrease if income decreases or expenses increase.
  2. There are several groups of individuals who enter the US and are included under the 'Refugee' Category. These individuals may be eligible for Refugee Medical Assistance(RMA) for the first 8 months upon entry to the US. The month of US Entry is considered month 1 of the 8-month period.

Note: For guidance on eligibility for Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM), refer to policy 510-03-55-05.