The Minnesota health exchange insurance bill, which confirms the establishment of a state insurance marketplace (previously known as an exchange) in Minnesota, recently passed the State Senate on Monday. The State House had previously passed the bill, and now the last step for enactment into law is Governor Mark Dayton’s signature. Governor Mark Dayton has already declared his support for establishing a state exchange. Minnesota was granted conditional approval for establishing its own state health insurance marketplace by HHS Secretary Sebelius on December 20, 2012. The Minnesota State Legislature was the final stage of approval for establishing the state exchange.
Minnesota’s state exchange is projected to cover 300,000 uninsured, 6,199 of which are American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN), who will be able to receive federal subsidies to pay for their healthcare coverage. By 2016, 1.3 million Minnesotan residents will obtain health insurance through the exchanges. Planning is now full force in order to meet the October 1, 2013 deadline for open enrollment, with coverage beginning on January 1, 2014.