Hello from St. Paul,
If you are buying health insurance through MNsure, expect to pay more next year. And in many cases, expect to pay a lot more.
According to the Minnesota Department of Commerce, the average rate increases will range from 14 percent to 49 percent. The highest average rate increase comes from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, the state's largest insurer.
Sadly, many hardworking Minnesotans will find it difficult to absorb this double digit premium price hike. At this level, those who are purchasing health insurance through MNsure can expect to pay hundreds to thousands of dollars more next year than they are today depending on their age, where they live, and whether they purchase single or family coverage.
As someone who sits on the Minnesota House Health and Human Services Reform and Finance committees, none of this comes as a surprise to me as Obamacare mandates forced on our state are part of the reason behind these massive increases.
Last year House Republicans passed legislation that would improve transparency and lower rates by increasing health insurance access and competition. But Democrats, refusing to admit the MNsure program they championed was failing hardworking Minnesotans, would not support reform.
This news should serve as notice to stubborn lawmakers that we need to address this situation now. We need to stop wasting taxpayer dollars on a broken program that is making health insurance for hardworking Minnesotans unaffordable.
In other news, I remain truly outraged and disgusted with the continued controversy surrounding Planned Parenthood and the videos that suggest the organization harvests fetal organs and body parts and sells them.
One of the most recent videos shows a representative from a biosciences organization discussing how it procures fetal tissue from abortion clinics, including Minnesota. It was also recently discovered that the University of Minnesota has made purchases in the past from this organization.
So are Minnesota's abortion clinics doing anything illegal? It's impossible to say yes or no because they are not licensed or regulated, and Governor Dayton refuses to call for an investigation.
Considering this state requires licensing and regulation of all medical facilities and businesses in our state, including tattoo parlors and barber/beauty shops, it is incredible to think that abortion clinics aren't subjected to similar guidelines. Think about it: if we truly care about safe and legal abortions and the health of women undergoing the procedure, wouldn't we want them to be subjected to some stringent regulations?
Once again, I call on Governor Dayton to investigate Planned Parenthood and other abortion clinics to put this uncertainty to rest.
Sincerely,
Kathy