This year, the tally is down once again, but not by nearly such a large margin, according to new figures from the
There are still troubles in the individual market, insurers said, but the enrollment figures contribute to an emerging picture of relative stability that builds on recent financial results.
"There are some signs of improvement," said
The improvement comes in a small market that primarily serves people under age 65 who are self-employed or don't get coverage from their employer. The market has seen big premium jumps under the federal Affordable Care Act, which brought sweeping changes beginning in 2014.
Whereas about 270,000 people were buying coverage in the market in
As of
The federal health law prevents health plans from denying coverage to people based on pre-existing health problems. Insurers in
Ultimately, insurers stayed with the market and wound up posting a large profit on the business last year -- so large that one insurer expects to pay
The state's individual market still isn't out of the woods, said
The market is smaller than it was at this time last year, Smith noted, adding that survey data suggest the share of Minnesotans lacking health insurance increased in 2017. Changes being considered at the federal level to promote alternate forms of coverage for individuals could pull healthy consumers who typically use less care from the individual market, Smith added.
Finally, many consumers in
"The medical bills for people who buy insurance on their own are similar to those who get employer coverage," Schowalter said. "The big difference is that they see the entire premium and don't have an employer covering the majority of those costs."
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