Cambridge, MINN- Health insurance premium rates through the failed $400 million MNsure website have reached historic levels. Preliminary rate increases were released through Healthcare.Gov on Thursday afternoon. Minnesota families and individuals who buy insurance on their own could pay an average increase around 60 percent, the highest average increase of any year since Governor Dayton and Democrats established MNsure.
Thursday’s preliminary rate increases are on top of increases of up to 17 percent and 49 percent in the past two years. Over 75 percent of people who buy health insurance on their own do not receive any financial assistance from MNsure. Last session, House Republicans voted to reduce the MNsure tax which would have saved families at least $22 million over the next three years. The measure passed the House, but was vocally opposed by Democrat legislators and was not enacted.
“I am frustrated for Minnesotans who will see another round of double-digit percent increases this year, placing a significant strain on family budgets. Reining in the cost of health care is essential, and that’s why I’ve been a vocal advocate for meaningful reforms over the past several years to address our broken health care exchange, MNsure. I will continue to advocate for policies that offer solutions to lower health care costs for families because it’s what Minnesotans expect and deserve from their state government.”