It was announced yesterday that since September, the number of uninsured Minnesotans has fallen by over 40 percent. That means that 180,520 more Minnesotans now have health insurance through public and private health insurance options. Only 4.9 percent of Minnesotans remain uninsured.
Minnesota took important steps to expand health coverage through options under the federal Affordable Care Act. These include creating a state-based health insurance exchange (MNsure), covering more Minnesotans under Medical Assistance (Minnesota’s Medicaid program), and preserving and improving affordable health insurance for working people through MinnesotaCare.
The report released yesterday, Early Impacts of the Affordable Care Act on Health Insurance Coverage in Minnesota, by the State Health Access Data Assistance Center (SHADAC) shows that Minnesota has made substantial progress in covering the uninsured.
MNsure has reported that to date, about 236,700 Minnesotans have used it to find health insurance. We’ve reported before that MNsure is making a difference for many Minnesotans, and that many Minnesotans are using it to sign up for Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare, as well as private insurance options. But this report gives us a first snapshot of how health insurance coverage has changed since the implementation of health reforms in Minnesota. SHADAC plans additional research that will tell more about the Minnesotans who still lack insurance.
The report released yesterday shows that many Minnesotans are gaining affordable, quality health insurance, and it’s an important step toward positive health for all Minnesotans.
-Clark Biegler