More Minnesotans qualify for insurance assistance through MNsure

(ABC 6 News) – More people than ever have access to affordable health insurance in Minnesota next year. Southeastern Minnesotans will save on average about $860 a month through MNsure in 2023.

A recent community health needs assessment by Olmsted County Public Health found that about 44 percent of people living in Olmsted county are worried about paying their medical bills. About 19 percent are worried about paying for health insurance.

Statewide, about 4 percent of people are uninsured, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.

MNsure officials think they can bring that number down through a major change this year.

Until now, households that had one family member insured through their work could not qualify for tax credits through MNsure.

“Even though they had employer-sponsored coverage through that one individual, it might’ve been deemed affordable, but it was really out of the price point for the family,” said MNsure CEO Nate Clark.

Now due to federal law changes in the Inflation Reduction Act, uninsured family members have access to discounted health insurance and more people have access to tax credits.

“Insurance is affordable, and it’s affordable because these extra benefits are there to actually help folks get enrolled,” Clark said.

This could impact around 60,000 Minnesotans, according to a recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

According to MNsure, a family of four in Rochester could save around 1,300 a month because of increased tax credits.