Health Coverage Options
The Minnesota Health Information Clearinghouse provides information and publications on health coverage options. This information can be useful when consumers are looking for health care coveragein Minnesota. This page provides an overview of health coverage options, information on and a list of individual and family plans and small employer plans licensed to sell in Minnesota, information on COBRA and Minnesota continuation coverage, prescription drug coverage, Medicare coverage, and long-term care insurance.
Overview of Health Coverage Options in Minnesota
- The Health Plan Options booklets helps people learn about their health care options so they can make informed decisions.
- What are your choices
- How do people get health coverage?
- Which type of insurance is right for you? HMOs, Fee for Service
- Sample Questions
- Health Savings Accounts
- Looking for insurance under specific situations
- Change or Loss of Job, Temporary or Short-term Coverage, Preexisting Conditions, Medicare Supplement
- Tips for Shopping for Health Coverage
- Checklist: What's Most Important to You?
- What is Medical Assistance (MA)?
- How do I apply for Medical Assistance?
- What is MinnesotaCare?
- How do I apply for MinnesotaCare?
- Eligibility requirements for MinnesotaCare
- Will the application information I give to the county or state stay private?
- What if I don't qualify for any of the three programs?
- What assistance is available to help Medicare enrollees pay for Medicare?
- List of Human Service Agencies by County
- Senior Information
- Free or Reduced Cost Health Care
- Lower Cost Dental Services
- Health Care for Children with Disabilities
- General Insurance Information
- Prescription Drugs
- Small Employer Information
- Two other booklets included in this series provide information for specific situations.
COBRA: "How to Continue Your Health Care Coverage" discusses COBRA and Minnesota continuation coverage.
Portability: "Portability of Health Care Coverage" discusses your health care coverage when you change jobs or change from one health plan company to another.
Overview of Health Coverage Options, More Publications of Interest
These on-line publications provide more detailed information to help you understand the various types of insurance
coverage and other health coverage that is available. Includes general information on how to buy health insurance or
get health coverage.
Individual and Family Health Plans available in Minnesota
- "Licensed Companies That Sell Individual and Family Health Care Coverage in Minnesota" (PDF: 14.42KB/1 page). Lists companies that sell in the private market with web links to learn more about the specific plans offered and their cost.
- Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association. This health plan sells health coverage to people who apply for health insurance in the private market but get rejected due to preexisting conditions. The Minnesota Department of Commerce has a chart on their web site that compares Minnesota's MCHA with the temporary federal PCIP plan (see next entry).
- Temporary federal Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP). This temporary plan is for people who cannot get covered in the private market due to a pre-existing condition. You must have been without health coverage the previous six months before applying. This coverage ends in 2014 when the Health Insurance Exchange plans will offer coverage even to those with pre-existing conditions. PCIP is part of the new federal health reform. Minnesota chose to have the federal government administer this health plan for our state.
- MinnesotaCare, a public program, where you pay a premium based on family size and income. You must qualify to be enrolled. MinnesotaCare is provided through the Minnesota Department of Human Services, 651 297-3862 or 1-800-627-3672.
- List of Medicare supplement and Medicare-related health plans which provide additional coverage to original Medicare. This list is prepared by the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Does not include Medicare Advantage plans.
- "Health Care Choices for Minnesotans on Medicare 2012," (PDF: 4.2MB/199pages) lists all Medicare health plans that sell in Minnesota with specific information on each plan's coverage including premiums. Also includes basic information on Medicare ( including enrollment timeline information), Medicare prescriptions (Part D), special health care programs to save money, Medicare appeals process, health care fraud, and long-term care. This comprehensive booklet is published by the Minnesota Board on Aging and is available on line and through the Senior LinkAge Line 1-800-333-2433.
- The Medicare web site www.medicare.gov lists Medicare plans available in Minnesota. Compare health plans and medigap policies in your area. Compare Medicare prescription drug plans. Read about the different types of health plans: Medigap, Medicare Advantage, Medicare related health plans, Original Medicare and their prices.
- "Low Cost Options for Prescriptions," March 2012, (PDF:28.45KB/5 pages) lists resources for obtaining lower cost prescription drugs.
- List of Medicare Part D prescription plans in your area on the federal government Medicare web site.
- "Health Care Choices for Minnesotans on Medicare 2012" (PDF:4.2MB/199 pages) lists Medicare Part D prescription health plans and the coverage for each. Also includes general information on Medicare prescription coverage. It is published by the Minnesota Board on Aging and distributed by the Senior LinkAge Line, 1-800-333-2433. The Senior LinkAge Line representatives assist people of all ages in looking for lower-priced prescriptions.
- The "Small Employer Health Benefit Plan Market" booklet discusses small employer health coverage information and lists companies that sell plans to small employers. Available in print from the Minnesota Health Information Clearinghouse, 651 201-5178 or 1-800-657-3793.
Additional Information:
COBRA and Minnesota Continuation Coverage
- You continue with the employer group coverage you had, usually for up to 18 months. You now pay the full premium plus usually a two percent administrative charge. To get this coverage a "qualifying event" must occur.
- COBRA - How to Continue Your Health Coverage on the Managed Care Systems Section web site lists some of these qualifying events and other information about COBRA and Minnesota continuation coverage. As mentioned above, we can provide this information as a printed booklet, "How to Continue Your Health Coverage."
- For additional information on federal COBRA regulations, see the U. S. Department of Labor web site. They publish two booklets you can request: An Employer's Guide to Group Health Continuation Coverage under COBRA and An Employee's Guide to Health Benefits Under COBRA.
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The Minnesota Department of Commerce provides some information about long-term care insurance. See their booklet called What You Need to Know Long-Term Care Insurance. They do not show a list of companies that sell long-term coverage.
For additional information on purchasing long-term care insurance, order a copy of "Shopper's Guide to Long-Term Care Insurance" published by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Call 1-816-783-8300.
- The 2012 edition of "Health Care Choices for Minnesotans on Medicare" (PDF:4.2MB/199 pages) has a section on long-term care planning and financing. This booklet is published yearly by the Minnesota Board on Aging.
Portability
- "Portability of Health Care Coverage" discusses your health care coverage when you change jobs or change from one health plan company to another. Published by the Managed Care Section of the Minnesota Department of Health. Available in print from the Minnesota Health Information Clearinghouse, 651 201-5178 or 1-800-657-3793.
- For additional information on Portability see Compliance Assistance Guide, Health Benefits Coverage Under Federal Law... Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 HIPAA published by the U.S. Department of Labor. Also, Your Health Plan and HIPAA . . .Making the Law Work for You.
