8,000 get erroneous notices of health care cancellations

More than 8,000 low-income Minnesotans have received erroneous notices that their health coverage would be temporarily canceled if they don't pay up.

A July 17 notice warned MinnesotaCare subscribers that they faced a four-month coverage lockout if they failed to renew their policy through the state's new health insurance exchange by month's end. The Department of Human Services says their automated reminders drew on part of an old law that locked out subscribers whose coverage lapsed.

That penalty no longer exists, and the department announced the error on Monday.

MinnesotaCare is a state-subsidized health care plan for adults who make too much to enroll in Medicaid but can't afford insurance on their own.

The department says it is sending revised notices to the 8,765 affected subscribers.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.