SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Today, the House Taxes Committee approved 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.
“Creating an option for less expensive health insurance is one of the biggest impacts we can make for Minnesotans and their families to have a secure economic future,” Rep. Schultz said. “The pandemic has highlighted how much we all depend on accessible, quality health care, and as we work to emerge from COVID, Minnesotans shouldn’t have to worry about having health care they can barely afford or can’t afford at all. The MinnesotaCare Buy-In is another example of how House DFLers are laser-focused on reducing costs Minnesotans continue to face in their day-to-day lives.”
The MinnesotaCare Buy-In 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.
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.
Taxes was the third House committee to approve the legislation. 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.