Minnesotans Suffering from Skyrocketing Premiums Find Relief in New Healthcare Package

Date: March 15, 2017

 

Relief is coming for Minnesotans suffering from skyrocketing healthcare premiums.

The state Legislature passed an emergency aid package and then sent it to Gov. Mark Dayton, who signed it Jan. 26, according to CBS Minnesota.

“About 125,000 Minnesotans, facing premium spikes of 50 percent or higher, should now see their monthly insurance bills drop by 25 percent for all of 2017,” the StarTribune reports.

It took a while, and there were many arguments, but help is finally around the corner for Minnesota families.

“To the farms and small business owners, to the entrepreneurs on our main streets who are worried, we are listening. We are doing our very best to get you help today,” said Health and Human Services Chair Sen. Michelle Benson.

NFIB/MN State Director Mike Hickey is also pleased with this legislative decision.

“NFIB thanks the Legislature and the governor for the quick action on trying to help people who are struggling with these horrendous increases in their health insurance,” Hickey says. “Some people have had their insurance go up by 117 percent over the last two renewals. They have also had deductibles increase dramatically, and this is all solely due to Obamacare. The reinsurance legislation to help health insurers remain in the market is even more important. If the state does not help insurers handle these large claims, the whole market may collapse.”

Hickey’s comments fall in line with Republicans, who blame the rising premiums on Obamacare and MNsure, Minnesota’s health insurance marketplace.

Although Dayton didn’t approve of everything in the bill, he was pleased they were able to come to a compromise that would best help Minnesotans.

“The Legislature and I must now turn our attention to making good healthcare coverage available and affordable for all Minnesotans,” he told the StarTribune. “As I said the other night, ‘If we all give a little, Minnesotans will gain a lot.’ That spirit prevailed in negotiating this legislation. May it continue.”

The rebates should show up on March or April insurance bills, retroactive to Jan. 1, according to the StarTribune.

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