RELEASE: House Health Committee approves Rep. Schultz’s MinnesotaCare Buy-In proposal to reduce Minnesotans’ health care costs

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Today, the House Health Finance and Policy Committee held a remote hearing on legislation to create a MinnesotaCare Buy-In option. The bill, authored by Rep. Jen Schultz (DFL – Duluth), will reduce health care costs for Minnesotans choosing to enroll in the option.

“Minnesota has a long tradition of valuing health and wellbeing, but people, families, and small businesses face exorbitantly high health care costs that continue to increase, including premiums, deductibles, and prescription drug prices,” Rep. Schultz said. “The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated how much we all count on affordable health care, and the MinnesotaCare Buy-In will help more Minnesotans access the care they deserve while keeping more money in their pockets.”

Rep. Schultz’s legislation will allow individuals and families to access MinnesotaCare – the low-cost, high-quality health care program that Minnesotans have trusted for 30 years – by paying their own premiums, but at a much lower cost than plans available on the private market. The bill would make MinnesotaCare available to Minnesotans struggling to afford high deductibles and small businesses who want to contribute to their employees’ coverage.

Committee members heard directly from Minnesotans struggling with the health care costs such as Cindy VanDerPol, of Pastures a Plenty Farm in Kerkhoven, who was recently treated for cancer, and Jennifer Jacquot-DeVries of Brainerd who is self-employed and has a genetic kidney disease. A small business owner, Lauren Gaffney of Mastel’s Health Foods in St. Paul, discussed her difficulties in offering affordable coverage for employees.

Rep. Schultz’s legislation also includes transitional subsidies to help individuals, families, and small businesses afford quality health care during the two-year implementation period before the MinnesotaCare Buy-In is available.

The House Commerce Committee will consider the legislation next. Video of the hearing will be available on House Public Information Services’ YouTube channel. Documents and other information from the hearing will be available on the committee webpage.