Minnesota Health Insurance
Find the right health insurance policy for you.
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Ann Herro has been writing about insurance and employee benefits for over 15 years. She has covered topics as easy as insuring a car, and as difficult as transparency in healthcare costs.
Minnesotans have many different medical insurance choices, including group medical benefits, individual policies, supplemental insurance, and government sponsored healthcare options. If you lack medical benefits, think your benefits are insufficient, or believe your premiums are too high, it may be time to compare Minnesota health insurance options for yourself.
If your employer does not offer a good solution, or if you are self-employed, contact a local independent agent in the Trusted Choice® network. Since these agents are independent of any particular company, they can present you with several Minnesota health insurance quotes and help you find the best solution for your family. Find an agent today to start comparing Minnesota medical insurance quotes and options.
- Minnesota residents with group health insurance, 2011: 56%
- Minnesota residents with individual health insurance, 2011: 5%
- Minnesota residents without health insurance, 2011: 9.1%
The majority of Minnesotans can access group medical benefits at work. Some residents choose to purchase their own private medical plan to cover themselves or their immediate family. The Minnesota Department of Public Health reported that the rate of uninsured state residents rose between 2009 and 2011.
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Minnesota Health Insurance Plan Types
The Minnesota Department of Commerce regulates most insurance in the state. MN residents rely on a few main types of medical plans to help them limit out-of-pocket medical costs. Your own best choice will depend on your budget, personal tastes, and situation. A local agent will be able to explain your options and help you make a smart decision.
- Group benefit plans: In Minnesota, group benefits may be purchased through associations or purchasing pools as well as employers.
- Individual health insurance: These are private plans that may be purchased for individuals and families.
- Supplemental health insurance: Supplements such as the Medicare supplement plans, are mostly purchased to cover health-related costs that primary health plans do not cover.
- Minnesota public health: The state supports a variety of public health care options for people with low to moderate incomes. These include Minnesota Care and community based fee waiver programs. This also includes the Minnesota Comprehensive Health Care Pool – a non-profit high risk pool for people who cannot get group or private policies.
- Federal public health: The state of Minnesota works with the federal government to provide Medicaid assistance for people with very low incomes. Eligible seniors and disabled people may also qualify for Medicare.
How Much Does Minnesota Health Insurance Cost
Minnesotans spent on average about $780 in 2010 for health insurance on the private market. The total cost of the plan to the insurance company averaged $3,929. Outpatient care made up the largest portion of the cost to both those enrolled and the insurance company. The premium for your health insurance policy in Minnesota will depend on many individual factors. For example:
- Group rates will be determined by a benefits schedule set by your employer. Most employers expect employees to share the cost.
- Individual rates depend on age, prior health history, plan type, coverage levels, and even your ZIP code.
- Public health plans often have sliding fee scales.
While it is a common belief that individual health insurance costs more than group plans, this is not necessarily true. Here are a few facts to consider:
- Many employers are cutting back on group benefit subsidies and requiring employees to share a larger part of the tab.
- Group policies are underwritten on the company as a whole, while individuals can get premiums based on their own health and age. Some people may be able to find cheaper individual health insurance rates.
- It is important to decide which benefits are important, and to make sure you are getting the best value for your money. For example, many employers offer group medical plans with maternity benefits, but these may be difficult to obtain through private insurers.
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Our independent agents shop around to find you the best coverage.
Compare Minnesota Medical Insurance Quotes
The only way to find insurance with affordable premiums and the right coverage is to compare Minnesota health insurance plans. This can be a difficult task for an average consumer. A local independent agent in the Trusted Choice network will be familiar with options here in this state. Your agent can evaluate your situation, compare rates on several different plans, and suggest a policy that will help you access the healthcare you need at a price you can afford.
Get started insuring your family’s heath by contacting a local Trusted Choice member agent today.