Nearly 1.3 million Minnesotans, including 300,000 currently uninsured, will benefit from the passage of this law. According the Health Reform Minnesota website, that’s 1 in 5 Minnesotans.
Health insurance will be available online through a consumer-oriented marketplace called MNsure, beginning in 2014. Consumers can enroll in the exchange starting in October.
A key element in implementing President Obama’s Affordable Care Act, the health insurance exchange bill passed in the Senate Monday and in the House last week.
Policies in the Minnesota marketplace will be required to cover comprehensive women's preventive health services with no co-pays. Women will have increased access to life-saving cancer screenings, birth control, and Pap tests.
The bill remained contentious through House and Senate proceedings, particularly concerning an amendment that would prohibit health care plans in the exchange from providing abortion coverage. After passing in the House, the amendment was ultimately cut from the final version of the bill.
The marketplace will be run by a seven-member governor-appointed board. Gov. Dayton has until April 30th to appoint board members, which already includes Health and Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson.
For more info, check out:
MPR's Daily Circuit reporting on the Minnesota health insurance exchange
- by Shieva, Web Correspondent, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund