As I travel around Minnesota, I hear about many concerns facing communities throughout the state. But there is one issue at the top of list—an issue that weighs heavily on families in every corner of Minnesota—and that issue is health care.
Health care should be a right, not a privilege. Yet many Minnesotans do not have health coverage or struggle to afford their premiums. A recent report from the Minnesota Department of Health showed that limited options and rising costs have forced over 116,000 Minnesotans to drop their health care over the last two years. We must take action to ease the burden of rising health care costs on Minnesota families and make health care more accessible, so no person has to risk going without health care coverage.
That is why Governor Mark Dayton has proposed expanding the state’s MinnesotaCare program. Since its creation 1992, roughly 100,000 Minnesotans have chosen MinnesotaCare to provide them with the quality health coverage they need, at prices they can afford. MinnesotaCare provides high-quality health insurance coverage for adults and children statewide, including coverage for physician services, preventative care, and rehabilitation services.
By removing the program’s income restrictions, the governor’s plan would allow all Minnesotans who purchase their health insurance on the individual market the choice to “buy-in” to MinnesotaCare. This proposal, known as the “MinnesotaCare Buy-In,” would help an estimated 100,000 Minnesotans purchase better health coverage at prices estimated to be 28 percent less than other commercial health plans. The premiums paid by enrollees would cover the cost of their policies, meaning in the long-run, the program would pay for itself. It would deliver more competition in the marketplace and drive down costs for better, more affordable health care.
The broad network of care providers and physicians available through MinnesotaCare would be guaranteed payments comparable or higher than those they receive through Medicaid. This would offer more families all across Minnesota the option to choose and keep their own doctors. Farmers and Minnesotans living in rural areas in particular would benefit since their coverage options are often too expensive or too limited.
The Minnesota Care Buy-in would offer quality, low-cost health care options to Minnesotans at no extra cost to taxpayers. It’s a no-brainer. As Governor Dayton said during his State of the State Address: “Legislators have a very clear choice. They can side with big insurance companies, who don’t want this competition; or they can side with Minnesotans, who do.” The choice is clear. Minnesotans deserve the better, more affordable choice that MinnesotaCare Buy-In will offer. It’s time for the Legislature to act. Lawmakers should pass this proposal immediately to give all Minnesotan access to affordable health care.
Ken Martin
Minnesota DFL chair