MNsure officials, insurance companies consider deadline extension

Five of the state's insurance companies and officials with the state's online health insurance marketplace are discussing a possible extension to a key deadline for people to obtain health insurance.

Under current rules, consumers who use the MNsure site must pick a plan by Dec. 23 to be covered on Jan. 1.

But in the midst of ongoing technical problems with the site that are preventing people from signing up, extending the deadline is a good idea, MNsure Board Chair Brian Beutner said.

"It's certainly something we'd love to do to be able to make sure any Minnesotan who is trying to get coverage by Jan. 1 can," he said.

It's not clear how long the extension would be. Beutner said the insurers and MNsure also must verify that they can work the change into their computer systems.

The discussions come a day after insurance companies selling coverage on MNsure said that they would consider giving people more time to pay for their plans, too.

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