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Minnesota Health Insurance Consumer Guide
We’ve compiled this guide to help you choose the right health insurance plan for you and your family. An ACA Marketplace plan – or Obamacare – is a good option for many people, and we’re here to walk you through the choices available.
In Minnesota, you can sign up for ACA Marketplace coverage through MNsure, the state’s health insurance exchange. If eligible, you may also get help to lower your monthly insurance cost (premium) and your out-of-pocket expenses through MNsure.
ACA Marketplace coverage may be a good alternative if you don’t qualify for Medicare or don’t get health insurance from your job. About 3% of Minnesotans opt to buy their health insurance on the exchange. 1
People in Minnesota can also sign up for MinnesotaCare – Minnesota’s Basic Health Program – through MNsure.
If you need Medicaid, you can also enroll through MNsure. But for some types of Medicaid (for example, for older adults or people who are disabled), you’ll need to go through the state’s Medicaid office.
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Minnesota's Medicaid program
In 2013, Minnesota adopted the ACA’s Medicaid expansion. As of April 2023, Medicaid and CHIP plan enrollment grew 61% due to the expansion and the COVID-19 pandemic. 2
Enrollment for Medicare in Minnesota
As of early 2023, more than 1.1 million Minnesotans were enrolled in Medicare coverage.3 Our guide explains everything you need to know about Medicare and Medigap plans in Minnesota.
Short-term coverage in Minnesota
No carrier currently markets short-term health insurance in the state of Minnesota.
Frequently asked questions about health insurance in Minnesota
Who can buy Marketplace health insurance?
To qualify for health coverage through the Marketplace in Minnesota, you must:
- Be a Minnesota resident
- Be either a United States citizen or national, or be lawfully present
- Not be incarcerated
- Not have Medicare coverage
When can I enroll in an ACA-compliant plan in Minnesota?
In Minnesota, you can sign up for an ACA-compliant individual or family health plan from November 1 to January 15 during open enrollment. 4
If you need your coverage to start on January 1, you must apply by December 15. If you apply between December 16 and January 15, your coverage will begin on February 1.
Outside of open enrollment time, you may be eligible to enroll if you experience a qualifying life event, such as giving birth or losing employer-sponsored insurance.
How do I enroll in a Marketplace plan in Minnesota?
To enroll in an ACA Marketplace plan in Minnesota, you can:
- Visit MNsure – Minnesota’s health insurance marketplace. MNsure provides an online platform to shop, compare, and choose the best health plans.
- Purchase individual and family health coverage through insurance agents or brokers.
You can also call MNsure’s contact center by dialing 651-539-2099 (or 855-366-7873 if you’re outside the Twin Cities). The contact center operates from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Monday to Friday.
How can I find affordable health insurance in Minnesota?
You may find affordable health insurance options in Minnesota by signing up through MNsure.
Under the Affordable Care Act, there are income-based subsidies – a type of financial assistance – called Advance Premium Tax Credits (APTC). APTCs can help lower your premium payments and reduce your overall expenses.
Families eligible in Minnesota will see an average yearly savings of $6,700 on 2024 coverage due to tax credits.5 More than half of eligible enrollees in the state save around $346 per month on their 2023 premium expenses – those who qualified for subsidies usually pay an average monthly net premium of $203.6
If your household income is below 250% of the federal poverty level, you may also qualify for cost-sharing reductions (CSR). These reductions can lower your deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses. Combining APTCs and CSRs might make an ACA plan the most budget-friendly health insurance choice for you.
You can also find inexpensive health insurance through Medicaid. Check to see if you meet the criteria for Medicaid in Minnesota.
Source: CMS.gov 7
How many insurers offer Marketplace coverage in Minnesota?
For 2023 coverage, there are six insurers that offer exchange plans in Minnesota: 8
- Blue Plus
- Health Partners, Inc.
- Medica Insurance Company
- UCare
- Quartz
PreferredOne also provides individual and family coverage in Minnesota. However, they sell coverage outside of the exchange, so their plans are unavailable through MNsure.
The availability of plans varies by location. For this year, most counties in Minnesota offer exchange plans from at least three different insurers. 9 In fact, every county in the state has access to plans from a minimum of two insurers, offering at least 24 plan options. 10
Are Marketplace health insurance premiums increasing in Minnesota?
For 2024, MNsure’s insurers have proposed the following average rate changes:11
Minnesota’s ACA Marketplace Plan 2024 Proposed Rate Increases by Insurance Company |
|
---|---|
Issuer | Percent Increase |
Blue Plus | 3.0% |
Health Partners, Inc. | 8.0% |
Medica | 2.8% |
UCare | 5.5% |
Quartz | 3.2% |
Source: Minnesota Commerce Department 12
Keep in mind that these proposed average rate increases are for full-price plans. However, more than half of the people who enroll through MNsure get premium tax credits that help reduce costs.13
These subsidies are adjusted each year to match changes in the benchmark plan (the second-lowest-cost Silver plan) in each area. And as a result of the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act, the subsidies are larger and more widely available than they were in the past.
If the cost of your current plan increases, you may find that a different MNsure plan might be a better fit for your needs and budget.
How many people are insured through Minnesota’s Marketplace?
During the open enrollment period for 2023 coverage, 118,431 people enrolled in private health coverage through the Minnesota exchange.14 This doesn’t include people enrolled in MinnesotaCare and Medical Assistance.
Source: 2014,15 2015, 16 2016,17 2017,18 2018,19 2019,20 2020,21 2021,22 2022,23 2023,24 202425
What health insurance resources are available to Minnesota residents?
MNsure: Minnesota’s health insurance marketplace provides financial help for individual plan premiums exclusively to state residents. To reach MNsure for more information, dial (651) 539-2099 or (855) 366-7873 if outside the Twin Cities.
Minnesota Department of Human Services: The Minnesota Department of Human Services offers health care coverage programs and resources. You can call their customer service at 651-297-3862 or 800-657-3672 for assistance.
Local tribal or county health care office: To receive assistance with health care programs, you can contact your local tribal or county health care office.
Minnesota State Health Insurance Assistance Program: You can find information and resources for Minnesota’s Medicare beneficiaries.
Medical Assistance: Minnesota’s Medical Assistance (Medicaid) program helps low-income individuals and families with medical coverage. This program has eligibility requirements, and more information is available on the Minnesota Department of Health website.
Louise Norris is an individual health insurance broker who has been writing about health insurance and health reform since 2006. She has written dozens of opinions and educational pieces about the Affordable Care Act for healthinsurance.org.
Footnotes
- “Fact Sheet: 2023 health insurance rate changes” MN.gov, Sept. 29, 2022 ⤶
- "Total Monthly Medicaid & CHIP Enrollment and Pre-ACA Enrollment" KFF.org, April 2023 ⤶
- “Medicare Monthly Enrollment” CMS.gov, April 2023 ⤶
- “Open Enrollment Period” MNsure.org, 2023 ⤶
- “Fact Sheet: 2023 health insurance rate changes for the individual market” MN.gov, Sept. 29, 2022 ⤶
- “2023 OEP State-Level Public Use File (ZIP)” CMS.gov, March 23, 2023 ⤶
- “2024 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files” CMS.gov, March 2024 ⤶
- “Minnesota Rate Review Submissions” Healthcare.gov, 2023 ⤶
- “County by County Plan Year 2023 Insurer Participation in Health Insurance Exchanges” CMS.gov ⤶
- “Fact Sheet: 2023 health insurance rate changes” MN.gov, Sept. 29, 2022 ⤶
- “Proposed Average Rate Changes for 2024 Individual Health Insurance Market” Minnesota Commerce Department ⤶
- “Proposed Average Rate Changes for 2024 Individual Health Insurance Market” Minnesota Commerce Department ⤶
- “Effectuated Enrollment: Early 2023 Snapshot and Full-Year 2022 Average” Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. ⤶
- “Health Insurance Marketplaces 2023 Open Enrollment Report” CMS.gov ⤶
- “ASPE Issue Brief (2014)” ASPE, 2015 ⤶
- “Health Insurance Marketplaces 2015 Open Enrollment Period: March Enrollment Report”, HHS.gov, 2015 ⤶
- “HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACES 2016 OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD: FINAL ENROLLMENT REPORT” HHS.gov, 2016 ⤶
- “2017 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files” CMS.gov, 2017 ⤶
- “2018 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files” CMS.gov, 2018 ⤶
- “2019 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files” CMS.gov, 2019 ⤶
- “2020 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files” CMS.gov, 2020 ⤶
- “2021 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files” CMS.gov, 2021 ⤶
- “2022 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files” CMS.gov, 2022 ⤶
- “Health Insurance Marketplaces 2023 Open Enrollment Report” CMS.gov, 2023 ⤶
- “HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACES 2024 OPEN ENROLLMENT REPORT” CMS.gov, 2024 ⤶