Rep. Dan Schoen - Legislative Report - April 17, 2014

Friends,

If you were one of the many Minnesotans who experienced difficulties attempting to purchase your health insurance through MNsure this note is for you.

MNsure has announced that April 22 is the deadline for those Minnesotans who were able to complete the online enrollment form but did not make any other attempt to enroll in health insurance coverage.

These consumers must choose their health plan online before 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22. They also must make their first month’s premium payment directly to their insurance company by April 30 to activate their coverage and avoid penalties as part of the Affordable Care Act.

Consumers who do not meet these enrollment and payment deadlines will not be able to enroll for health insurance coverage inside or outside of MNsure until the next Open Enrollment period, beginning on November 15, 2014, or a qualifying life event – such as a marriage – occurs.

Consumers eligible for Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare will receive further communication from the Department of Human Services or a local county agency. Eligible individuals can enroll in MinnesotaCare or Medical Assistance year-round and do not have to meet the same enrollment and payment deadlines as those enrolling in a Qualified Health Plan.

Consumers who started the online application as of March 31 are in the MNsure system and will receive communication from MNsure.

Anyone needing further assistance should call the MNsure Contact Center at 1-855-366-7873. The Contact Center is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday- Friday and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday

Some community notes

• The St. Paul Park Fire Department is holding a meat raffle 4 p.m. Friday, April 18 at Park Place Sports Bar-St. Paul Park.

• Washington County is hosting a free document shredding event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday, April 18, at the Environmental Center in Woodbury, 4039 Cottage Grove Drive. It’s open to residents and businesses. Businesses can bring up to six boxes of documents, weighing no more than 30 pounds each. Proof of county residency is required.

• The Cottage Grove Bike Park is a finalist for a portion of a $100,000 grant from Bell Helmets. The Cottage Grove Park will face off in an online voting competition with a few other parks from the central United States. This grant will make the already regionally popular park better!  Voting starts on April 21 and lasts until May 4. For more information, go to http://www.cottage-grove.org/administration/communication/107-news-a-events/815-help-us-win-a-grant-cottage-grove-bike-park-finalist-for-grant.

I hope you all are able to have some time with family this weekend celebrating Passover and Easter. 

Dan