MAPLE LAKE, 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.
Representative Marion O’Neill, R-Maple Lake, released the following statement regarding MNsure rate increases:
“Minnesotans are facing another year of skyrocketing health insurance costs that are simply unaffordable for too many families in Wright County. What’s more, I am particularly frustrated that a number of commonsense reforms put forward over the past two years to help save people money on their health care were met with strong opposition from Senate Democrats.
It’s time for the governor and his party to acknowledge MNsure is not working for too many people and come to the table to help craft meaningful policy solutions that will reduce the cost of health care, improve choice in the market and give Minnesotans the options they deserve.”
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