"First, I want to thank all of the dedicated state employees at MNsure and the Minnesota Departments of Commerce, Health, Human Services, and Management and Budget, who have worked evenings and weekends for the last few months to launch this enormous project on October 1. I also thank the participating health plans for engaging in this historic undertaking and for making it possible to accelerate the release of today's information by almost a month."

"I am told that it is extremely difficult to make valid comparisons between these health insurance rates and those in previous years. A very important feature of the Affordable Care Act is that it requires insurance plans to cover significantly more of people's health care needs than before. Additionally, these prices do not include the federal subsidies, which will reduce the cost of coverage for many Minnesotans."

"However, MNsure's rates can be compared to those in other states, which have established similar health exchanges. The costs Minnesotans will pay for their health insurance are markedly lower than in most other states. Due credit belongs to all of our state's initiatives, in both the private and public sectors, to control rising health care costs. Those efforts must, and will, continue."