Minnesota House of Representatives
District 12A 651-296-4929 – rep.jay.mcnamar@house.mn
431 State Office Building, St. Paul, MN 55155
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Matt Privratsky – 651-296-6860
February 11, 2013
STATE REP. JAY MCNAMAR VOTES IN FAVOR OF EXPANDING HEALTH INSURANCE FOR LOW INCOME MINNESOTANS
ST. PAUL, MN - The House of Representatives passed a bill on Monday February 11, 2013 to expand health care coverage for low income Minnesotans. As a result of the bill, over 40,000 currently uninsured Minnesotans will be covered by insurance by 2016.
More Minnesotans will be covered with insurance, which will reduce costly uncompensated care for the uninsured in Emergency Rooms. This will reduce the hidden tax that is passed onto Minnesotans with health insurance to pay for uncompensated care.
Rep. Jay McNamar (DFL – Elbow Lake) voted in favor of the bill.
“This is the kind of solution that Minnesotans are looking for. The bill will give health insurance coverage to those families who desperately need it. People across our state are struggling to get the health care they need and this will bill gives them that coverage without hitting Minnesota’s budget.”
The bill will increase the income limit for adults without children and for parents and relative caretakers to 133% FPG with a 5% income disregard to equal 138%. Increases in income limits would take effect in January 2014. The cost of the expanded coverage will have no impact on Minnesota’s general fund because they will be paid for at the federal level.
In addition to the $129 million in savings projected for the 2014-15 biennium, the Department of Human Services estimates that the combination of early and full expansion of Medicaid eligibility will save the State over $1 billion for the 2011-2015 fiscal period.
Throughout the legislative session, Rep. McNamar encourages all constituents to contact him directly with any questions, comments, or concerns on any legislative issue. Rep. McNamar can be reached by phone at (651) 296-4929 or by email at rep.jay.mcnamar@house.mn. To sign up for email updates from Rep. McNamar, go to www.house.mn/12a
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