SAINT PAUL, MN – Tonight, the Minnesota House is debating the Omnibus Health and Human Services Bill, which will cut state health funding by $1.152 billion. The bill eliminates MinnesotaCare, which will cause 100,000 working Minnesotans to lose their health insurance. MinnesotaCare provides health insurance for low-income Minnesotans who earn just enough not to qualify for Medical Assistance (MA). The 25 counties with the highest concentration of residents who qualify for MinnesotaCare are all in Greater Minnesota.
“The state of Minnesota has a $2 billion budget surplus, but Republicans have decided that now is the time to kick 100,000 working, low-income Minnesotans off of their health insurance. Many of these Minnesotans in rural communities already have limited access to healthcare services, especially in Northern Minnesota,” said Rep. Jennifer Schultz (DFL—Duluth). “There are about 4,200 individuals in St. Louis County to whom this health care cut will be a devastating loss.”
The bill also defunds the Statewide Health Insurance Program (SHIP), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) nurse home visiting services.
“This will directly undercut the health and finances of Greater Minnesota families,” said Rep. Schultz. “We have a rare opportunity before us to build a stronger healthcare budget that improves childcare, senior care, and protects our most vulnerable, but this bill doesn’t do that.”
Under the Republican plan, individuals who lose coverage under MinnesotaCare would be forced onto the MNsure exchange.
“Eliminating MinnesotaCare limits choice. Many will be forced to choose no coverage because they cannot afford coverage without MinnesotaCare," said Rep. Schultz during the floor debate late Tuesday night. "Or, they will be forced to purchase less coverage and become under-insured. I would rather have fewer choices of plans with full coverage, as opposed to more choices of plans with less coverage.”
“Republicans mentioned on the floor that we need to reduce spending in Health and Human Services to pay for education, but this bill doesn’t serve either goal” said Rep. Schultz. “If children are not healthy then spending money on their education is going to be less effective. Funding health care is essential. Children need to be fed, housed and healthy to learn, and they need healthy parents to care for them.”
"If you care about protecting children then why put them at risk by not supporting the health of their parents?" said Rep. Schultz.
Rep. Schultz encourages community members to contact her on any legislative issue. She can be reached by email at rep.jennifer.schultz@house.mn or phone at 651-296-2228.
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