Minnesota Home Care License (MDH) Insurance Requirements
What MDH asks for, with links to the official documents
Professional and general liability with MDH on your certificate
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What insurance does MDH require?
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) licenses home care providers at two levels: basic (non-medical and basic support services) and comprehensive (adds nursing and other professional services). The license application includes evidence of workers’ compensation coverage (if you have employees) and documentation of liability coverage if you carry it. Medicaid personal care is bought separately by DHS through Community First Services and Supports (CFSS), which adds its own bond and insurance rules.
Who must carry insurance: Every home care provider with employees shows workers’ compensation coverage with the license application, plus documentation of any liability coverage it carries; CFSS agency-providers enrolled with DHS must show liability insurance, workers’ compensation and bonds.
| Coverage | What to have in place | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Workers’ compensation | Evidence of workers’ compensation coverage as Minnesota law requires (Minn. Stat. 176.181 and 176.182), included with your license application. | Minn. Stat. 144A.472, subd. 1(8) |
| Liability insurance (MDH license) | Documentation of your liability coverage if you carry it, included with your license application. The MDH license itself sets no liability minimum. | Minn. Stat. 144A.472, subd. 1(9) |
| Liability insurance (CFSS agency-provider) | Proof of liability insurance at DHS enrollment, reenrollment and revalidation. | Minn. Stat. 256B.85, subd. 12(a)(5) |
| Workers’ compensation (CFSS agency-provider) | Proof of workers’ compensation insurance at enrollment, reenrollment and revalidation. | Minn. Stat. 256B.85, subd. 12(a)(4) |
| Surety bond (CFSS agency-provider) | $50,000 for new enrollment or prior-year Medicaid revenue up to $300,000; $100,000 for revenue over $300,000. The bond must be bought new every year. | Minn. Stat. 256B.85, subd. 12(a)(2) |
| Fidelity bond (CFSS agency-provider) | $20,000 per provider location. | Minn. Stat. 256B.85, subd. 12(a)(3) |
| Liability limits on a county human services contract (example) | Example from another organization: Aitkin County Health & Human Services’ 2020 purchase-of-service agreement for HCBS waiver case management asked for at least $500,000 per person and $1,500,000 per occurrence (the Minn. Stat. 466.04 tort limits), with the county department as additional insured. Your own county contract sets its own terms. | Aitkin County HHS case management agreement 2020, Section VIII (comparable; Minn. Stat. 466.04) |
If you plan to bill Medicaid personal care through CFSS, budget for liability insurance, workers’ compensation and both bonds before you enroll with DHS. Your DHS enrollment and any county contract set the final terms.
Other requirements to plan for
- Initial license fee: $2,100 for basic and $4,200 for comprehensive.
- Background studies for management and employees.
- Name a managerial official in charge of daily operations, with an attestation that they understand the rules.
- Verification of required policies and procedures.
- CFSS agency-providers pay unemployment insurance, taxes, workers’ compensation and liability insurance for their support workers.
How to show MDH on your certificate of insurance
Small details cause most certificate rejections. Match MDH’s wording exactly and send an updated certificate every time your policy renews.
Certificate holder: Use the exact name in your MDH or DHS instructions, or the county named in your contract.
Also check: Make sure the documents show your agency as the insured and current policy dates; an application for workers’ compensation is not accepted as proof. County purchase-of-service agreements may ask for the county as additional insured.
When proof is due: MDH: with your initial license application. CFSS: at enrollment, reenrollment and revalidation, with a new surety bond each year.
How to send it: MDH: upload the documents with your application in the MDH application portal. CFSS: in the format DHS sets for enrollment.
With BizInsure you can add MDH as a certificate holder when you buy or later, and every package policy includes a blanket additional insured endorsement for organizations your written contract requires you to add. Need help with the wording? Call 1-877-900-9998.
MDH provider checklist
The main steps, in order, with links to the official pages.
- Choose your MDH license level: basic or comprehensive Official page
- Buy workers’ compensation coverage for your employees before you apply Official page
- Complete background studies for owners, managers and staff Official page
- Apply to MDH with workers’ comp evidence and any liability documentation, then pay the fee when MDH requests it Official page
- For Medicaid personal care, enroll with DHS as a CFSS agency-provider Official page
- Buy the CFSS surety bond, fidelity bond and liability insurance before enrolling Official page
Official documents and pages
Coverage options for MDH providers
Through BizInsure, home care agencies and caregivers can buy a Professional & General Liability package: general and professional liability in one policy, with limits of $1 million per claim and up to $3 million aggregate, and abuse & molestation coverage ($100,000 / $300,000) included. Your policy documents and certificate of insurance are emailed when you buy, and you can name MDH as certificate holder. Check these limits against your MDH agreement, then start a quote online or call 1-877-900-9998 to talk with a licensed agent, including about workers’ compensation.
Professional & General Liability package
Professional liability and general liability in one policy built for home care agencies and caregivers: limits of $1 million per claim and up to $3 million in the aggregate.
Abuse & molestation coverage
Included in the package: $100,000 per claim and $300,000 in the aggregate for abuse or molestation allegations, including legal defense.
Additional insured and certificates
Every package policy includes a blanket additional insured endorsement for organizations your written contract requires you to add. Your certificate of insurance arrives by email when you buy, and you can add MDH as certificate holder.
Hired & non-owned auto
Optional for eligible agencies whose staff occasionally drive their own or rented cars for work errands: $250,000 liability.
Workers’ compensation
Our licensed agents can arrange a workers’ compensation quote for your employees. Call 1-877-900-9998.
Price
Starts from $613 a year.
Get the certificate MDH asks for
Answer a few questions online, compare your price and receive your policy and certificate of insurance by email. Prefer to talk it through? Our licensed agents can help.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Minn. Stat. 144A.472 asks for evidence of workers’ compensation coverage (if you have employees) with the license application, plus documentation of liability coverage if you carry it; it sets no liability minimum. CFSS agency-providers then show liability insurance, workers’ compensation and two bonds at DHS enrollment.
MDH and DHS set no dollar minimum. As an example from another organization, Aitkin County’s 2020 purchase-of-service agreement for HCBS case management asked for at least $500,000 per person and $1,500,000 per occurrence, with the county department as additional insured.
A surety bond of $50,000 (new enrollment or prior-year Medicaid revenue up to $300,000) or $100,000 (revenue over $300,000), bought new each year. You also need a $20,000 fidelity bond for each provider location.
MDH takes your insurance documents with the license application. For CFSS, DHS asks for proof at enrollment, reenrollment and revalidation, and the surety bond is renewed every year.
Yes. Add MDH as a certificate holder when you buy or later, and every package policy includes a blanket additional insured endorsement for organizations your written contract requires you to add. Your certificate is emailed to you, and our licensed agents can help on 1-877-900-9998.
BizInsure (BizInsure LLC, California license 0H81929) is an independent licensed insurance agency and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Minnesota Department of Health home care provider licensure (basic and comprehensive), Minn. Stat. ch. 144A. Requirements on this page were last checked on November 4, 2026 against the published documents linked above. They can change, so confirm the current version with the organization. Coverage is subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy and to underwriting approval.
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