Insurers Will Limit Minnesota Home Care Nursing Visits
Medica and HealthPartners plan to restrict coverage for dually enrolled patients beginning in 2027.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Nursing Jobs
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Health insurers Medica and HealthPartners will cap home care nursing coverage for dually enrolled patients starting in 2027. Under the new plans, Medica will limit coverage to 120 visits, with each visit defined as up to 24 hours of care.
Why it matters
The change follows a failure to pass legislation in 2026 that would have reinforced a 2010 state law requiring such coverage. Insurers attribute the limits to regulatory guidance and existing plan structures, while state officials argue the move seeks to reduce costs for services that have been covered for over a decade.
Medica will cap home care nursing at 120 visits annually in 2027. Minnesota health insurers currently define a single home care nursing visit as up to 24 hours of care.
The players
Medica
This health insurance provider is implementing a 120-visit annual cap on home care nursing services for 2027.
HealthPartners
This insurance entity is limiting home care nursing coverage for dually enrolled patients in Minnesota starting in 2027.
Minnesota Department of Commerce
This state agency regulates insurance plans and recently extended the definition of a home care nursing visit for 2027 plans.
The details
While the Minnesota Department of Commerce extended the definition of a visit in 2027 plans to add options, insurers claim administrative pressure forced policy shifts and rate increases. State officials are now seeking a permanent legislative fix to address the coverage gap for vulnerable residents.
Timeline
A state law requiring insurers to cover home care was passed in 2010.
A bill to reinforce home care coverage failed during the 2026 legislative session.
Governor Walz's spokesperson addressed the coverage issue in September 2026.
The Minnesota Council of Health Plans released a statement on October 1, 2026.
Medica and HealthPartners will implement new visit limits in 2027.
Market Landscape
The move by major insurers signals a retreat from previous standards set by Minnesota's 2010 state law requiring home care coverage. This shift highlights a widening gap between state regulatory expectations and the financial constraints imposed by private insurance plan structures.
Dually enrolled patients face potential disruptions in care continuity as insurers tighten visit caps. Families should review their 2027 plan documents to understand how these limits on 24-hour nursing visits will affect their specific care arrangements.
The takeaway
Patients navigating these changes should proactively contact their care coordinators to prepare for the upcoming 120-visit limit. Monitoring upcoming state legislative discussions remains essential for those relying on long-term home care mandates.
What happens next
State officials plan to pursue a permanent legislative fix for home care nursing coverage in upcoming sessions following the failure of the 2026 bill.
Further reading
Learn more about the state's healthcare employment landscape in the Minnesota Nursing Jobs section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Rochester Post Bulletin.
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