ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Department of Commerce on Monday released final rates for the 2018 individual insurance market, confirming that Republican-led reforms helped reverse the four straight years of double-digit premium increases and helped to expand health care choices to Minnesota families – particularly in rural areas.
According to the Minnesota Department of Commerce, rates would have risen by 20 percent or higher without Republican reforms. The individual market serves Minnesotans who do not receive health insurance through their employer or the government.
Over the past four years, premium rates increased by double digits every year, including nearly 60 percent just one year ago. As a result of the reinsurance program recently approved by the federal government, all current insurers will continue serving the individual market next year.
In addition, Republicans successfully pushed to expand health care options and improve access to hospitals and doctors. As part of the reinsurance legislation, providers are now required to offer in-network access to more than one health care provider system in the counties in which they operate.
Rep. Jim Knoblach, R-St. Cloud, released the following statement regarding Monday’s rate announcement:
“Affordability and accessibility are the two things people care about most with health insurance and, unfortunately, MNsure has fallen short on both accounts,” Knoblach said. “It is encouraging to now see that changes we implemented earlier this year have taken root and are pointing our state in the right direction. This will be welcome relief for people who have been suffering from soaring premium increases year after year.”
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