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Rep. Dan Schoen - Legislative Report - March 27, 2014

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Friends,

If you haven’t yet purchased health insurance, the MNsure open enrollment deadline is just a few days away.

Minnesotans have high expectations for health care, and we should. We knew the best route to affordable health care plans was to design and administer our own health insurance exchange.

Wisconsin is the perfect contrast to Minnesota and what it means to look out for each other. It allowed partisans to dominate the Affordable Care Act debate, refused to create its own health insurance exchange and ended up in the national exchange.

In Minnesota, we have the least expensive health insurance rates in the country. In Wisconsin, premiums are, on average, up to 99 percent higher than those in Minnesota.

The MNsure Contact Center will remain open every day now through the end of open enrollment. Hours are Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Contact Center also will be open until midnight on Monday, March 31.

Don’t wait until the last minute. Sign up at www.mnsure.org.

And ignore the despicable campaign being run waged against MNsure and the Affordable Care Act. You may have seen the billboard urging consumers to just say no to MNsure.

This “Refuse to Enroll” campaign is the work of the Citizens Council for Health Freedom. It is opposed to MNsure, the Affordable Care Act, even Medicaid and Medicare. The group would have us risk life and livelihood by going without health insurance and pay the penalty.

It is despicable to encourage people to not obtain health insurance because they don’t like a political party, candidate or policy. One medical emergency for a family could result in financial disaster! That is un-Minnesotan and un-American.

Please call my office at 651-296-4342 if you have any questions or need assistance.

Give the gift of life

The American Red Cross will be holding blood drives at three different locations in our area in early April.

·On Friday, April 4, it will be at Newport Lutheran Church, 900 15th St., Newport, from 1 to 6 p.m.

·On Monday, April 7, it will be at New Life Academy, 6758 Bailey Road, Woodbury, from 2:45 to 6:45 p.m.

·On Saturday, April 12, it will be at the Army National Guard Armory, 8180 Belden Blvd., Cottage Grove, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A blood donor card, driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors, 18 years and younger, also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

To make an appointment, call 800-733-2767 or visit www.redcrossblood.com.  

Have a great weekend,

 

Dan