Minnesota Health Insurance

Minnesota residents have many health insurance plans and companies to choose from when it comes to getting individual or family health insurance. The variety of options will help consumers find health coverage that fits their needs.

Below read health insurance rules, regulations, and laws in Minnesota and how they may affect your search. Also review some of the state’s top insurance companies and information on public health insurance coverage and financial assistance that’s available in Minnesota.

If you’re not a current resident of Minnesota, you can easily search health insurance by state here.

To compare Minnesota health insurance plans fill out the quote form below.

Resources on this page

Minnesota Health Insurance Laws and Regulations

Public Health Insurance Programs for Minnesota Residents

Minnesota Health Insurance High Risk Pools

Minnesota Health Insurance Companies

Contact Info for the Minnesota Department of Commerce and Department of Health

Minnesota Health Insurance Stats

Minnesota Residents: 5,246,000
Median Annual Household Income: $56,869
Minnesota Health Care Expenditures (in millions): $38,994
Households with at least 1 full time worker: 2,575,800
Minnesota Health Insurance Coverage based on Total Population (%):

• Employer: 57%
• Individual: 5%
• Medicaid: 14%
• Medicare: 13%
• Uninsured: 9%

Avg. Annual Employee Premium in Minnesota employer-sponsored plan (after employer contrib.): $1,087
Avg. Monthly Minnesota Individual Premiums: $250
Total Minnesota HMO Enrollment: 1,020,703

Minnesota Health Insurance Laws and Regulations

State law allows Minnesota health insurance companies to look at an applicant's health history or pre-existing health conditions before accepting them for coverage.

But Minnesota's state law does not allow insurers to set exclusion periods for pregnancies, newborn infants, adopted children, or available genetic information.

Individuals in the state who recently left a group Minnesota health insurance plan have certain protections under the federal law HIPAA, which prohibits insurance companies from imposing exclusion or waiting periods for pre-existing conditions.

For residents who are denied coverage because of their health status, they can receive coverage through Minnesota's high-risk health plan, the Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association (MCHA).

Minnesota health insurance companies are also not allowed to cancel coverage if a policyholder gets sick or injured, known as guaranteed renewability.

In the state, all Minnesota health insurance plans are required by law to cover these services:

• Screening for breast, cervical, prostate, colorectal, and ovarian cancer
• Care for pregnant women
• Hearing aids for children
• Vaccinations for children
• Contraceptives

Minnesota health insurance companies must also set coverage limits and maximums for mental health illnesses equally to physical conditions.

In Minnesota, former employees also have a right to continue their group health insurance coverage for a temporary period of time under the federal law COBRA.

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Minnesota Public Health Insurance Programs

The public Minnesota health insurance programs to help low-income residents get coverage include:

• Medicaid (Medical Assistance)
  Minnesota Medicaid's program is called Medical Assistance, which offers some low-earning residents with free health insurance. Learn more about the Medical Assistance program online.

• MinnesotaCare
  This program provides health insurance for children, individuals, and families who cannot afford a private health plan. For more information about this Minnesota health insurance program for families, visit their website.

• Sage Screening Program
  Low-income women can get free mammograms and cervical cancer screenings through this program. Women diagnosed with cancer through this program can receive full health insurance benefits through Medicaid. Learn more about this Minnesota health insurance program for women here.


• Minnesota Medicare
  Seniors can find Minnesota health insurance through Medicare Advantage, Supplement and Original Medicare.

Some Minnesota residents are also eligible for the Federal Health Coverage Tax Credit, for assistance with their health plan premiums. Find out more from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) online.

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Minnesota Health Insurance High Risk Pool

Residents in Minnesota with pre-existing conditions will be eligible for health insurance coverage from the temporary high risk pools established by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) in Minnesota will run similar to regular Minnesota health insurance plans and require enrollees to pay monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs.

Individuals in the Minnesota PCIP will pay about the same amount as people without medical conditions pay for health insurance. The estimated monthly cost for Minnesota residents will be $274 for ages 0 to 34; $328 for ages 35 to 44; $419 for ages 45 to 54; $583 for ages 55 and older. The deductible that must be met before health insurance plans kick in is $2,500 a year. Out-of-pocket limits are set at $5,950.

Those eligible in Minnesota will have health insurance coverage for hospital and doctor visits, prescription drugs, emergency services and more.

Individuals may apply for the Minnesota PCIP if they have a pre-existing condition, have been without health insurance for six months and are a United States citizen.

For more information on the Minnesota health insurance high risk pools visit http://www.healthcare.gov/index.html.

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The following list of companies offer Minnesota health insurance plans:

Minnesota Department of Commerce and Department of Health

Find the contact information for the Minnesota health insurance and health services departments at:

Minnesota Department of Commerce
85 7th Place East, Suite 500
St. Paul, MN 55101
Phone: (651) 296-2488
http://www.commerce.state.mn.us/
Medical insurance section

Minnesota Department of Health
P.O. Box 64975
St. Paul, MN 55164-0975
Phone: (651) 201-5000
http://www.health.state.mn.us/

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