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Having a baby in Minnesota

Medicaid and WIC income limits, paid leave, doula and lactation coverage, breast pumps and childcare prices in Minnesota, with the agency and link to apply for each.

Checked October 2026 · 37 sources

Short answer

Medical Assistance covers pregnancy for incomes up to 283% of the poverty level, about $61,241 a year for you and one baby, and for 12 months after birth. WIC takes households of two earning up to $40,034. Paid family leave covers up to 12 weeks to bond with your baby, up to $1,423 a week. Medical Assistance pays for a doula. Full-time infant care at a center runs about $20,280 a year (2022 prices).

What you can get in Minnesota

The short answer for each benefit, with its source. Tap Details for income limits, how to apply and the fine print.

Yes

Can Medicaid cover your pregnancy in Minnesota?

In Minnesota, Medical Assistance covers pregnancy for household incomes up to 283% of the federal poverty level (about $61,241 a year for a household of two); Medicaid postpartum coverage lasts 12 months.

Source: KFF State Health Facts, income limits as of January 2026Details
Yes

Can you get WIC in Minnesota?

Yes, if your household's income is at or below $40,034 a year for two people (you and your baby). If you get Medicaid, SNAP or TANF, you may already qualify. You can start online.

Source: Minnesota Department of Health, October 2026Details
Yes

Does Minnesota have paid family leave?

Minnesota pays up to 12 weeks of pregnancy-related medical leave and 12 weeks to bond, 20 weeks combined, at up to 90% of wages, max $1,423 a week in 2026. Benefits started January 1, 2026.

Source: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (Minnesota Paid Leave), October 2026Details
Yes

Does Medical Assistance pay for a doula?

In Minnesota, Medicaid has covered doula care since 2014, paying $100 per prenatal or postpartum visit and $1,400 for support at the birth.

Source: National Health Law Program (NHeLP), October 2026Details
Limited

Does Medical Assistance cover a lactation consultant?

In Minnesota, Medical Assistance covers lactation classes, but we couldn't confirm whether individual lactation visits are covered.

Source: Minnesota Department of Human Services, October 2026Details
Yes

Does Medical Assistance cover a breast pump?

In Minnesota, Medical Assistance lists breast pumps among covered services for pregnant members.

Source: Minnesota Department of Human Services, October 2026Details

Medicaid for pregnancy in Minnesota

Yes

283%

of the federal poverty level is the upper income limit

KFF, January 2026

12 mo

of Medicaid coverage after birth

KFF, July 2026

Program
Medical Assistance
Agency
Minnesota Department of Human Services
Medicaid limit
283% of the poverty level
CHIP unborn-child option
Yes, at the Medicaid limit
12-month postpartum coverage since
July 1, 2022
Presumptive eligibility
Not for the pregnancy group, but hospitals can still make presumptive determinations.

Hospitals in every state may make presumptive eligibility determinations.

Apply for Medical Assistance Check your income
Medical Assistance income limit by household size283% of 2026 guidelines (48 states and DC)
HouseholdPer yearPer month
2you + 1 baby$61,241$5,103
3$77,316$6,443
4$93,390$7,783
5$109,464$9,122
6$125,539$10,462
7$141,613$11,801

Count yourself plus each baby you're expecting. Gross household income; Minnesota rounds and updates on its own schedule, so treat these as approximate. Compare every state

Sources: KFF State Health Facts; KFF and Georgetown University Center for Children and Families; KFF; Minnesota Department of Human Services; Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Data as of October 2026.

WIC in Minnesota

Yes

Minnesota WIC gives pregnant and new parents, babies and children under 5 healthy food, nutrition help and breastfeeding support. You qualify on income at or below 185% of the poverty guidelines, and you may already qualify if you get Medicaid, SNAP or TANF.

Program
Minnesota WIC
Agency
Minnesota Department of Health
Phone
(800) 657-3942
Apply online
Start the online form

  1. Start online or call

    Contact a WIC agency where you live to start, by phone or online. The agency schedules an in-person or virtual appointment to finish the application and nutrition check.

  2. Go to your appointment

    In person or virtual. Staff finish your application and do a free health and nutrition check.
Minnesota WIC WIC limits for every state
WIC income limits, 48 states and DCJuly 2026 to June 2027
HouseholdPer yearPer month
1$29,526$2,461
2$40,034$3,337
3$50,542$4,212
4$61,050$5,088
5$71,558$5,964
6$82,066$6,839

Gross household income. Count each unborn baby as a household member.

Sources: Minnesota Department of Health; USDA Food and Nutrition Administration; USDA Food and Nutrition Service (Federal Register). Data as of October 2026.

Doula coverage in Minnesota

Yes

In Minnesota, Medicaid has covered doula care since 2014, paying $100 per prenatal or postpartum visit and $1,400 for support at the birth.

Covered since
July 1, 2014
Payment
$100 per prenatal or postpartum visit and $1,400 for attending the birth, effective 1/1/2024 (Minn. Stat. 256B.758(b); SPA MN-23-0018). Before that, $47 per visit and $488 for the birth. We couldn't confirm the per-pregnancy visit limit from a state source, so no total is given. The National Health Law Program reports up to 18 prenatal and postpartum visits since May 2024, which would mean up to $3,200.
Labor and delivery support
Yes
Doula certification required
Certification from a doula certification organization designated by the Minnesota Dept. of Health, plus listing on the MDH Doula Registry (criminal background check, $200 fee, renew every 3 years); enroll as an MHCP provider
Notes
Coverage and rates come from state law and federally approved plan amendments. The National Health Law Program says the limit rose from 6 to 18 prenatal and postpartum visits in May 2024 (up to $3,200); confirm the current limit with Minnesota Health Care Programs or your health plan. SPA 23-0018 (effective 1/1/2024) removed the old rule that doulas work under the supervision of a physician, NP or nurse-midwife. Services still need a recommendation from a licensed practitioner; the National Health Law Program reports a statewide standing recommendation issued Jan. 9, 2024.

Medicaid can't charge cost sharing for pregnancy-related services, so covered doula care costs you nothing. You usually need a recommendation from a doctor, midwife or other licensed provider, and a doula in your health plan's network. Checked October 2026; rates often change January 1 and July 1, so confirm with Medical Assistance.

267

doulas listed in Minnesota, 155 on a Medicaid doula list

CMS NPPES and state doula lists

Doulas in MinnesotaDoula coverage in every state

Sources: National Health Law Program (NHeLP); Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes; CMS (Medicaid.gov); Minnesota Department of Health; National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP). Data as of October 2026.

Lactation support in Minnesota

Limited

In Minnesota, Medical Assistance covers lactation classes, but we couldn't confirm whether individual lactation visits are covered.

Notes
Minnesota DHS's member page for pregnant people lists birthing and lactation classes among covered services. We couldn't confirm whether individual lactation consultation is separately payable: the MHCP Provider Manual couldn't be accessed for this review, and the 2026 Hennepin Health and HealthPartners PMAP member handbooks, Minn. Stat. 256B.0625 and Minn. Rules chapter 9505 don't mention lactation services. Minnesota did not respond to KFF's 2021 survey.

Minnesota Medicaid member information

88

lactation consultants listed in Minnesota

CMS NPPES

Lactation consultants in MinnesotaLactation coverage in every state

Sources: Minnesota Department of Human Services; Hennepin Health; HealthPartners; Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes; KFF. Data as of October 2026.

Breast pumps through Medical Assistance

Yes

In Minnesota, Medical Assistance lists breast pumps among covered services for pregnant members.

Notes
Minnesota DHS's member page for pregnant people lists medical equipment such as breast pumps among covered services. Pump types and prescription and prior authorization rules couldn't be confirmed because the MHCP Provider Manual couldn't be accessed for this review. UCare's 2026 provider manual, which applied to its Medical Assistance products through September 30, 2026, covered manual, electric and hospital-grade pump codes with a medical order.

Minnesota Medicaid member information

Sources: Minnesota Department of Human Services; UCare; KFF. Data as of October 2026.

Childcare costs in Minnesota

$20,280

a year ($390 a week), the median for infant care at a center

DOL state estimate, 2022

$10,660

a year ($205 a week) in a family childcare home

DOL state estimate, 2022

Full-time provider prices before any subsidy, in 2022 dollars. The national median for center infant care was $12,647 a year. 87 county infant center prices were not surveyed in 2022; DOL estimated them from the price trend between other survey years.

Center infant care, lowest and highest county2022 prices
CountyPer year
Stearns Countyhighest$22,395
Kittson Countylowest$8,684

87 of 87 counties have a center infant price.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau. Data as of October 2026.

Questions about having a baby in Minnesota

What is the income limit for pregnancy Medicaid in Minnesota?

Medical Assistance covers pregnancy for household incomes up to 283% of the federal poverty level. At the 2026 poverty guidelines that's about $61,241 a year for a household of two, $77,316 for three and $93,390 for four. Count yourself plus each baby you're expecting.

How long does Medicaid cover you after birth in Minnesota?

Medical Assistance covers you for 12 months after the pregnancy ends, a rule in place since July 2022.

What is the WIC income limit in Minnesota?

From July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, Minnesota WIC uses USDA's limits: $40,034 a year for a household of two, $50,542 for three and $61,050 for four. If you get Medicaid, SNAP or TANF, you may already meet the income rule. Call 1-800-657-3942 to apply.

Does Minnesota have paid family leave?

Minnesota pays up to 12 weeks of pregnancy-related medical leave and 12 weeks to bond, 20 weeks combined, at up to 90% of wages, max $1,423 a week in 2026. Benefits started January 1, 2026.

Does Medical Assistance pay for a doula?

In Minnesota, Medicaid has covered doula care since 2014, paying $100 per prenatal or postpartum visit and $1,400 for support at the birth.

How much does infant daycare cost in Minnesota?

The median price for full-time infant care at a center in Minnesota was $390 a week, about $20,280 a year, in 2022 (U.S. Department of Labor). Prices have risen since, so treat it as a floor and look up your county.

Sources

  1. 1.Medicaid and CHIP Income Eligibility Limits for Pregnant Women as a Percent of the Federal Poverty Level (as of January 2026) KFF State Health Facts. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  2. 2.Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility, Enrollment, and Renewal Policies as States Prepare for Major Medicaid Policy Changes (Table 2, January 2026) KFF and Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  3. 3.Medicaid Postpartum Coverage Extension Tracker (as of July 15, 2026) KFF. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  4. 4.Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility, Enrollment, and Renewal Policies as States Resume Routine Operations Following the Unwinding (Table 7: Presumptive Eligibility, January 2025) KFF and Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  5. 5.Medical Assistance: how to apply Minnesota Department of Human Services. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  6. 6.CMS approval of Minnesota State Plan Amendment MN-22-0008 (12-month postpartum coverage), effective 2022-07-01 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  7. 7.Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines (91 FR 1797, Jan. 15, 2026) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Federal Register). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  8. 8.Minnesota WIC (state WIC page) Minnesota Department of Health. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  9. 9.Minnesota WIC: state agency contact USDA Food and Nutrition Administration. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  10. 10.Minnesota WIC: online application or interest form Minnesota Department of Health. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  11. 11.WIC: 2026/2027 Income Eligibility Guidelines (91 FR 23050, Apr. 29, 2026) USDA Food and Nutrition Service (Federal Register). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  12. 12.Paid Leave for giving birth | Minnesota Paid Leave Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (Minnesota Paid Leave). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  13. 13.How Paid Leave works | Minnesota Paid Leave Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (Minnesota Paid Leave). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  14. 14.Estimate your payments | Minnesota Paid Leave Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (Minnesota Paid Leave). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  15. 15.Common questions | Minnesota Paid Leave Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (Minnesota Paid Leave). Accessed October 9, 2026.
Show all 37 sources
  1. 16.News | Minnesota Paid Leave Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (Minnesota Paid Leave). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  2. 17.Minn. Stat. 268B.04 Financial eligibility; benefits Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  3. 18.State Paid Family & Medical Leave Insurance Laws (chart, April 2026) National Partnership for Women & Families. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  4. 19.State paid family and medical leave contributions and benefits (Feb. 6, 2026) Mercer Law & Policy Group. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  5. 20.Doula Medicaid Project: state-by-state chart of doula Medicaid efforts (last updated Sep. 2026) National Health Law Program (NHeLP). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  6. 21.Minn. Stat. 256B.758 Reimbursement for Doula Services Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  7. 22.Minn. Stat. 256B.0625, subd. 28b (Doula services) Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  8. 23.Minnesota SPA 23-0018: Abortion, family planning, and doula services and rates CMS (Medicaid.gov). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  9. 24.Minnesota SPA 14-007: Addition of Doula Services CMS (Medicaid.gov). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  10. 25.Minnesota Doula Registry Minnesota Department of Health. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  11. 26.Applying and Renewing: Minnesota Doula Registry Minnesota Department of Health. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  12. 27.State Trends in Medicaid Coverage of Doula Services (published April 1, 2026; data as of March 2026) National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  13. 28.42 CFR 447.56(a)(2)(ii), exemptions from Medicaid cost sharing: pregnancy-related services eCFR / Code of Federal Regulations.
  14. 29.Health care coverage for people who are pregnant Minnesota Department of Human Services. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  15. 30.Member Handbook, Families and Children (PMAP), Effective January 1, 2026 (DHS accepted 12/31/2025) Hennepin Health. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  16. 31.2026 Families and Children Member Handbook HealthPartners. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  17. 32.Minnesota Rules, Chapter 9505 (Health Care Programs) Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  18. 33.Medicaid Coverage of Pregnancy-Related Services: Findings from a 2021 State Survey KFF. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  19. 34.UCare Provider Manual (2026) UCare. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  20. 35.National Database of Childcare Prices: 2008-2022 (Data File) U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  21. 36.National Database of Childcare Prices Technical Report (September 2024) U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  22. 37.National Database of Childcare Prices: State-Level Estimates and Affordability Rankings 2022 U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau. Accessed October 9, 2026.

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