July 21, 2016
I’m happy to
announce we finalized partnerships with 23 grantee organizations at the beginning of this month. These 23
grantees, along with their numerous sub-grantee partners, work with MNsure to
guarantee Minnesotans in every corner of the state have access to in-person
enrollment assistance.
The work these
grantees do goes right to the heart of our mission here at MNsure, making sure
all Minnesotans have access to quality, affordable health insurance coverage. These
organizations know how to reach their communities the best, and we rely on
their expertise to assist Minnesotans statewide.
I think it’s fair
to say that the across-the-board reductions in uninsured Minnesotans by racial
group, which the Minnesota Department of Health reported earlier this year, are
a direct result of this work. Our network of outreach grantees is a major
contributor to Minnesota’s historically low uninsured rate.
We look forward to
working with these organizations to serve the people of Minnesota over the next
12 months.
Allison O’Toole,
CEO
The Minnesota Department
of Health presented findings about consumer awareness of MNsure this week. This
information was part of their 2015 Health Access survey.
In part, it indicates
that more than 107,000 Minnesotans who potentially qualified for tax credits or
public health insurance programs did not take advantage of the discounts—because
they were uninsured or they enrolled in a plan outside of MNsure. Some people
may have been aware of the subsidies available but didn’t think they qualified,
and others did not know where to get the subsidies.
MNsure remains the
only place Minnesotans can get financial help to lower premiums.
These findings will
help MNsure with future marketing planning. As quoted in the July 21 StarTribune,
MNsure CEO Allison O’Toole said, “In two years’ time, we’ve cut the uninsured
rate in half. This pool is getting smaller and harder to reach. And so the
remaining uninsured, we have more work to do to reach them.”
As discussed by our CEO above, MNsure has awarded 23 navigator outreach and
enrollment grants for the
upcoming year. Approximately $4 million was issued that will fund outreach and
enrollment efforts from July 1, 2016, until June 30, 2017. Grantees were chosen
through a selection process that included a diverse team of internal and
external reviewers.
When you have private
health insurance coverage, you may have costs besides the monthly premium when
you have a doctor appointment or get other health care.
- Deductible:
The amount you must pay out-of-pocket for covered health care services before
your insurance plan begins to pay. (The deductible may not apply to all
services.)
-
Co-pay:
A fixed amount you pay for a covered health care service, usually when you
receive the service. The amount can vary by the type of covered health care
service.
-
Co-insurance:
Your share of the costs of a covered health care service, calculated as a
percentage of the allowed amount for the service. You pay co-insurance plus any
deductibles you owe. For
example, if the plan's allowed amount for an office visit
is $100 and you've met your deductible, your co-insurance payment of 20% would
be $20.
Big life events like
having a baby, getting married or losing insurance due to a layoff could allow
you to get private health insurance coverage outside of open enrollment. Go to
our website for a list of qualifying
life events and find out how to apply for a special enrollment period.
If you qualify for Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare, are a member of
a federally recognized Indian tribe, or are a small group employer, you can
enroll through MNsure at any time of the year.
Call the Contact Center at 1-855-366-7873
Open Monday–Friday, 8
a.m.–5 p.m.
Get in-person assistance
Find a navigator or broker in your community.
Enrollment events and
opportunities are happening throughout
the state. Check our events calendar for those near you.
Health Industry Advisory Committee Meeting
July 28, 2:30–5 p.m.
UCare, 500 Stinson Boulevard NE, Minneapolis
MNsure Board of Directors Meeting
September 21, 1–3 p.m.
81 East 7th Street, 1st Floor Atrium, St. Paul
This meeting is also being broadcast via live-streaming audio.
All of the board meetings can be attended in
person and are also available online. MNsure is committed to
accessibility and provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals
with physical or mental disabilities. Please submit your specific request for
reasonable accommodations to AEO@MNsure.org at
least two weeks in advance of the event date. We appreciate your interest in
MNsure.
Health Insurance Enrollment Representative
(Job ID 4406, closes 8/5/16)
More details on
our website
Go to the State of Minnesota
jobs website
“Report:
107,500 Minnesotans who qualify aren't tapping insurance subsidies”
(StarTribune)
Stay updated on the latest MNsure news.
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