MNsure backers make their case in Duluth
"We had consultants come in and estimate the cost of going to the federal exchange," Schultz said of a bipartisan panel on the idea of abandoning the state's version of the exchange, which is known as MNsure. "It was going to cost the state more than
A bill to make the move was introduced by state Rep.
Moreover, Dean argued that MNsure is dysfunctional. "The consumer experience under MNsure has never been good," he said. "It's hurt people."
But during a roundtable meeting with reporters on Friday, Schultz and MNsure CEO
"We wouldn't have any control," Schultz said. "Those rates would be determined by the federal government, and so those rates could continue to go up with absolutely no state control over the product, over customer service."
O'Toole argued that in spite of challenges such as the decision by
Among current MNsure enrollees, two out of three receive tax credits at an average of
The 96 percent of Minnesotans with some form of coverage is a record for the state and one of the highest marks in the country, O'Toole said.
O'Toole said she's confident that whatever happens in
"As a broker we look at the coverage and the benefits, and the benefits in many cases are gutted in the new plan," Collins said.
A
Collins also spoke against a proposed rule from the federal
"You'd have to have 10 people on staff for those 45 days just to try to touch everybody," he said. "You can't do it."
O'Toole agreed. "We took a quarter-million calls in three months," she said. "They're talking about doing that same level of service in six weeks. ... People need help with this decision, and we need to give them time."
Schultz said she thought the 45-day limit was proposed in an attempt to limit enrollment and to limit federal subsidies.
In the state Legislature, Schultz said,
Dean charged that the
"It would not take long for the small clinics in greater
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