Dear Neighbor,
We have received updated information regarding Minnesota’s version of Obamacare – MNsure – three months after its botched launch. People have until close of business on Friday, Jan. 10 to submit payment for coverage effective Jan. 1.
MNsure lists 26,011 enrollments "in process" in the individual market 28,401 enrollments in Medical Assistance, and 17,570 enrollments in MinnesotaCare.
For the first time, MNsure staff provided clarity on the percentage of the individual market "in process" enrollments who have submitted payment: 78 percent (20,288) have submitted payment to MNsure, 6.2 percent (1,613) opted to be billed by the insurer, and the rest have not yet submitted payment.
Individual market enrollment is far behind MNsure's 2014 goals. Through Jan. 4, paid enrollment was less than one third MNsure's April 1 goal. Actual enrollment is even worse compared with the worst-case enrollment scenario provided in the fiscal note associated with this law. The wider the margin between individual market enrollment projections and actual enrollment, the more likely that MNsure will be facing a severe budget shortfall down the road.
The federal government set a goal of 33 percent of all enrollees between ages 18-35. Through Jan. 4, just 20.4 percent of MNsure individual market enrollees were between the ages of 19-35. This could have serious negative impacts for 2015 insurance premiums.
MNsure was unable to explain what percentage of the individual market enrollment "in process" were receiving premium subsidies. They also did not provide an exact number of individuals who applied for individual market coverage and have received an insurance card from their insurer of choice. No data was provided for enrollment by employees of small businesses.
Enrollment issues led to a significant number of people receiving flawed determinations of eligibility for premium subsidies or public programs. That may result in people enrolling in a public program, or using a premium subsidy for a private plan for which they are not eligible. People may have to repay money to state or federal government through no fault of their own.
It will be interesting to see what transpires over the coming months and years, starting with the 2014 legislative session. What, if anything, will Gov. Mark Dayton and fellow Democrats who passed this flawed program do to try to fix it?
Sincerely,
Tom