MNsure open enrollment starts October 1st

There has been a lot of talk about changes in health care insurance over the past few years as states prepare to put the Affordable Health Care Act into action. We are now within months of the changes taking effect. Last session, the Minnesota State Legislature passed legislation to create a new health care marketplace which we now know as MNsure.
 
Open enrollment for MNsure will begin on Oct. 1. This means people without coverage and small businesses can find insurance plans online. On average, Minnesota’s Health Exchange offers lower rates than any other state-based exchange in the nation.

MNsure will allow Minnesotans to shop for health coverage with a real apples-to-apples comparison of plan premiums, coverage levels and available providers within networks. Depending on your location in Minnesota there will be at least two and up to five different insurance companies with plan options for you.

Those looking for information on the new system are encouraged to visit MNsure’s website at www.mnsure.org. Once there, you will find information on the benefits of MNsure, how the marketplace will work, what the plans will cost and ways to ask specific questions.

If you would like to call and ask questions, MNsure has a call center already up and running. The phone number is 1-855-3-MNSURE (1-855-366-7873), and the center is open Monday – Friday 7:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

In addition to the assistance available within MNsure, there is a growing statewide network of organizations and agents/brokers to help you select the plan that fits your needs. These partners will soon be available and searchable geographically on MNsure’s website.

Many current insurance agents/ brokers will also be able to offer you a plan listed within MNsure. Keep in mind, however, that tax credits for individual and family buyers can only be obtained if you purchase your health coverage through MNsure.

There will be a lot of talk about MNsure as people start to use the new website. Like all changes on this large of a scale, there will be some confusion and misinformation. Use the website and call line to ensure that you have all the right information and help friends and family as they work to get up to speed.

As always, please contact me with questions or suggestions regarding any issue. I encourage you to visit me at the Capitol, or let me know if you’d like me to stop by your home or apartment. Also, please tune in to my local cable TV show, “Your Capitol: What’s Up?,” which appears on public access channels 15 and 16. I can be reached by email at sen.chuck.wiger@senate.mn and by phone at 651-296-6820.