ST. PAUL, MN – Following today’s release of the proposed 2017 individual health insurance rates, Governor Mark Dayton issued the following statement.
“I am alarmed by the drastic increases in health insurance rates for Minnesotans in the individual market, which are also occurring in many other states under the Affordable Care Act. Fortunately, many individuals, who purchase their insurance through MNsure and qualify for the federal tax credits, can offset most of the listed rate increases. Also, these increases do not impact the 95 percent of Minnesotans who receive insurance through their employer or state programs.
“Nevertheless, these increases are reason for very serious concerns and for improvements to the Affordable Care Act by both Congress and the Minnesota Legislature. I will reconvene my Task Force on Health Care Financing, which previously reviewed our state program, and ask its members to look at the individual market, in light of these developments.
“I am most appreciative of the insurance providers, who, with one exception, have remained in our state’s individual health insurance market to offer Minnesotans their choices of health insurance throughout our state. I am extremely disappointed that one carrier, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, has withdrawn from the individual market, as they reportedly have done in other parts of the country. The continued participation of private insurers in the Affordable Care Act is essential to its survival.
Overall, as a result of the Affordable Care Act, we have the lowest rate of uninsurance in our state’s history. And anyone, who believes this country would be better off after a collapse of the Affordable Care Act, is seriously mistaken.”
