FAQ
MNsure is a health insurance marketplace where you can enroll in health insurance plans, apply for financial help to lower your costs, and access low-cost and free options through government programs.
No. MNsure is Minnesota's health insurance marketplace.
MNsure is the only place you can qualify for financial help that can lower the cost of your monthly insurance premium.
Any Minnesota resident who is a U.S. citizen, U.S. resident, or lawfully present can purchase health insurance through MNsure.
Open enrollment is a set time period each year when consumers can enroll in private health plans offered through MNsure. During this time period consumers can also change or renew their current coverage in a private health plan. Annual open enrollment is usually in the fall and early winter months.
Consumers who experience certain life events (having a baby, getting married, turning 26) may qualify for a special enrollment period which would allow them to enroll in private coverage outside the annual open enrollment period.
Year-round enrollment is open to:
Those who qualify for Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare.
Members of a federally recognized American Indian tribe.
Starting with the 2019 coverage tax year -- for which 2020 taxes are filed -- there is no longer a tax penalty or "individual mandate" for not having health insurance.
It's important to remember that health insurance provides regular, preventive care for you and your family to stay healthy and prevent illness. Medical bills are a common cause of bankruptcy and can reach into the millions of dollars.
Having quality health coverage gives you peace of mind knowing that if an accident or illness strikes you and your family are protected from a lifetime of financial burden.
Minnesotans can enroll in health insurance coverage outside of MNsure, but doing this prevents access to financial help such as premium tax credits, low-cost or no-cost coverage.
Only by enrolling through MNsure can consumers get access to financial help.
All plans sold through MNsure provide comprehensive coverage and consumer protections such as no discrimination based on pre-existing conditions (you cannot be denied coverage or charged a higher premium based on your health status, for example).
In addition, all plans sold through MNsure include 10 essential health benefits. Other plans available may not include the same benefits and protections guaranteed when purchasing a plan through MNsure.
Insurance costs depend on a variety of factors. But MNsure remains the only place you can apply for financial help to lower the cost of your monthly premium and out-of-pocket costs.
Most Minnesotans who enroll through MNsure qualify for financial help. The amount of financial help is based on a sliding scale, so the lower your income, the higher the amount of assistance.
Yes, you can enroll during the annual open enrollment period. However, access to employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) can affect your eligibility for financial help depending upon what it costs for you and what your household income is.
You cannot drop coverage and choose a MNsure plan outside of the annual open enrollment period unless you qualify for a special enrollment period.
Absolutely. All plans sold on MNsure include consumer protections, one of which is no discrimination based on pre-existing conditions.
MNsure will not automatically end your private health plan coverage if you are identified as being eligible, or become eligible, for Medicare after you are enrolled in a private plan. However, you can request to end your private plan coverage at any time.
Generally, if you are eligible for Medicare, even if you do not enroll in it, then you are not eligible for an advanced premium tax credit (APTC) or cost-sharing reductions (CSR).
Any APTC or CSR you are receiving will be terminated. Additionally, if you choose to enroll in a private plan through MNsure instead of Medicare and then enroll in Medicare later, you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty.
You must report changes within 30 days of a change happening if you have an advanced premium tax credit, cost-sharing reduction or a private health plan (qualified health plan).
Call MNsure at 651-539-2099 or 855-366-7873 to report any changes. If you do not report changes, you may have to pay money back to the state or federal government for benefits that you received but were not eligible for.