Refugee Health

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Contact Info
Refugee Health Program
651-201-5414
refugeehealth@state.mn.us

Contact Info

Refugee Health Program
651-201-5414
refugeehealth@state.mn.us

Community Sponsors: Refugee Health

This page is for sponsors and community partners helping privately sponsored newcomers with health care needs. Privately sponsored newcomers include Welcome Corps arrivals, newcomers with humanitarian parole, Cuban and Haitian Entrants, among others.

On this page:
About the Refugee Health Assessment
Who is eligible
Scheduling a Refugee Health Assessment
Transportation to Refugee Health Assessments
Accessing health care for needs that cannot wait until the Refugee Health Assessment
Health insurance and other benefits
Health requirements for humanitarian parolees
Welcome Corps frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Resources for newcomers and sponsors
Contact us

About the Refugee Health Assessment

The Refugee Health Assessment (also known as the Domestic Medical Exam or Refugee Health Screening) is an important part of resettlement. This special health exam helps newcomers be as healthy as possible and get connected to health care. It has NO effect on immigration status.

A Refugee Health Assessment involves many things that are not usually done during normal clinic visits. This includes testing for and treating illnesses that are more common in different countries and reviewing medical records from other countries. The assessments are done by specially trained health care providers over 1-2 visits. Medical Assistance health insurance pays for the Refugee Health Assessment. Professional interpreters are provided by the clinic for free.

Who is eligible

Learn who is eligible at The Minnesota Refugee Health Assessment.

Scheduling a Refugee Health Assessment

There are many clinics in Minnesota that do Refugee Health Assessments. The Minnesota Refugee Health Program works with the local health department in the county where the newcomer lives to schedule the assessment. You cannot schedule the assessment yourself. To request a Refugee Health Assessment, please fill out the confidential New Arrival Notification and Screening Referral form.

Welcome Corps sponsors should fill out this referral within 1 week after the refugee(s) arrive or within 1 week before arrival if a refugee has medical concerns, chronic conditions, or takes medications. Note: Medical conditions or concerns may be private, and refugees do not need to share their health information with sponsors to access health care. For assistance, reach out to our program.

How the process works

Step 1:
Sponsor/supporter/newcomer fills out the New Arrival Notification and Screening Referral form
Step 2:
Minnesota Refugee Health Program reviews referral and refers newcomer to local public health department
Step 3:
Local public health department calls sponsor/supporter/newcomer to schedule Refugee Health Assessment


Transportation to Refugee Health Assessments

Sponsors, family, or friends can bring newcomers to the Refugee Health Assessment. In some counties, including for the Twin Cities metro area, free transportation is available through Medical Assistance (health insurance). Most newcomers who are eligible for the Refugee Health Assessment are eligible for Medical Assistance. Local public health department nurses can give you more information about this option when they call you to schedule the Refugee Health Assessment. Find additional information about transportation at Transportation for Refugee Health Assessments.

Accessing health care for needs that cannot wait until the Refugee Health Assessment

Please reach out to our program for help accessing care for health needs that need to be addressed before the Refugee Health Assessment. This may include arrivals with a known health condition that requires care or those experiencing new symptoms on arrival. For health emergencies, always call 911 or go to the emergency room. If a newcomer accesses health care before their Medical Assistance health insurance is approved, reimbursement may be available.

Health insurance and other benefits

New arrivals should apply for benefits including health insurance and cash and food assistance. 

Health insurance

Almost all refugees in Minnesota are eligible for Medical Assistance health insurance. Other arrivals may be eligible for MinnesotaCare health insurance.

Note: Newcomers do not need to have received their social security number before they apply for health insurance.

  • For refugees through Welcome Corps or Virtual Reception and Placement: Contact Community Health Worker Solutions at 612-456-6929 or refer@chwsolutions.com to apply for free.
  • For all other newcomers: Work with a free MNSure navigator (MNSure: Assister Directory) to complete the application.

Cash and food assistance

New arrivals may be eligible for programs such as Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP), Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA), Matching Grant Program (MG), and/or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Learn more about applying for cash and food assistance at DHS: Refugee Programs.

Health requirements for humanitarian parolees

Humanitarian parolees may be required to have vaccinations and/or tuberculosis tests within 90 days of arrival to the United States. For more information on these requirements, please visit:

Health Requirements for Arrivals with Humanitarian Parolee Status

Welcome Corps frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Welcome Corps is a program that empowers everyday Americans to welcome refugees and support them in building new lives in the United States. The Welcome Corps program is free for both sponsors and refugees. If you or someone you know hears of fraud or is asked to pay money to access the program, please report it to fraud@welcomecorps.org. If you choose to use a preparer for your application, please review Welcome Corps: Can I use a preparer to help me fill out my application.

Welcome Corps offers live Application Support sessions On demand sessions are also available. Access Application Support Sessions. One-on-one application support is also available in several languages. Sign up for one-on-one support on Calendly: Welcome Corps Application Support.

For the application question, "List one local healthcare location in your community where refugees can get the Initial Medical Screening (Refugee Health Assessment) after they arrive in the U.S.?"

Please write the following:
"Per the State Refugee Health Coordinator’s guidance, in Minnesota, the Minnesota Department of Health Refugee Health Program and the local public health department in the county where the refugee will live coordinate the Refugee Health Assessment. These health departments will choose the location of the assessment after the refugee arrives. This assessment cannot be scheduled independently by sponsors. To initiate the Refugee Health Assessment process, I will fill out a confidential New Arrival Notification and Screening Referral system. More information is available at MDH: Community Sponsors. Additional questions may be sent to refugeehealth@state.mn.us."

In Minnesota, most refugees are eligible for Medical Assistance (Minnesota Medicaid). Contact Community Health Worker Solutions at 612-456-6929 or refer@chwsolutions.com to apply for free.

It is important that refugees set up ongoing primary healthcare after the Refugee Health Assessment. Some clinics that do Refugee Health Assessments can continue seeing refugees after their assessments. If that is not possible, refugees can choose a clinic for primary care that accepts Medical Assistance (Minnesota Medicaid). Options include their sponsors’ or family members’ clinic, clinics near where they live, or clinics recommended by their health plan. There are resources on Refugee Welcome Collective: Minnesota Health Resources for accessing ongoing health care.


Resources for newcomers and sponsors

Minnesota resources:

National resources:

Contact us

Minnesota Refugee Health Program

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Last Updated: 09/19/2025