Hello from St. Paul,
Last week, Republicans in the House State Government Finance Committee created a website that gives Minnesotans an easy way to share stories of how MNsure is impacting their lives with legislators.
I have received a number of calls and emails from folks sharing frustrations concerning MNsure. The frustrations range from enrollment errors, to confusion with tax information, to frustration with skyrocketing premiums and deductibles.
If you would like to share your story about your experience in dealing with the MNsure, you can follow this link to leave your feedback: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/cmte/comment.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact me directly if you have questions or problems with MNsure.
Reducing Minnesotans’ Tax Burden
Last week, the House Taxes Committee passed a bill (HF 2380) to reduce the tax MNsure collects on policies sold through the exchange. Minnesotans are concerned about rising health costs and this bill will help reduce those costs and force MNsure to rein in the cost of their operations.
More specifically, this legislation reduces the premium withhold tax for insurance plans sold through MNsure, cutting the tax in half in 2017 to 1.75 percent.
Within a year of MNsure’s creation, the MNsure board voted to raise the premium tax to 3.5 percent, and has since discussed ways to increase the tax beyond the 3.5 percent rate or extend the tax to plans sold off the MNsure exchange.
In addition, the bill sets a series of basic benchmarks that must be met by MNsure. If unmet, the tax will decrease to 1.5 percent in 2018 and any year thereafter when MNsure misses the benchmarks.
To date, more than $300 million in taxpayer money has been spent on MNsure, which is still struggling with basic functions like printing 1095-A tax forms.
Thanks to the groups that took time to visit me this week in St. Paul. Local folks from Minnesota Organization of Leaders in Nursing, the Rochester Reading Center, and the YMCA were all at the Capitol this week. It was great to speak with you!
Please make sure to contact me if you have any questions or comments regarding state government. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-9236 or via email at rep.duane.quam@house.mn.
Thank you and have a wonderful weekend,
Duane