MNsure misses mark for health insurance signups
MNsure has fallen short of its enrollment target for private plans.
The exchange announced Wednesday it signed up about 60,000 Minnesotans for commercial coverage in its second round of open enrollment.
MNsure's budget is based on netting 67,000 such enrollments. That goal was reduced by a third late last year.
Lackluster enrollment in private plans since MNsure launched in 2013 has forced the state to pick up more of the tab for the exchange.
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.
MNsure CEO Scott Leitz says the shortfall this year won't cause major changes to the exchange's budget.
"A modest adjustment, if any at all, may be needed to balance the fiscal year 2015 MNsure budget. We're talking about a shortfall of less than $250,000 that is entirely manageable," " Leitz said in a statement.
MNsure also signed up nearly 100,000 in public health programs.
Enrollment in commercial plans for most Minnesotans closed Feb. 15. Public program enrollment is available year-round.
MNsure also said it's setting up a special enrollment period for people who missed last Sunday's deadline to sign up for health insurance.
The enrollment period applies to people who have to pay a tax penalty for being uninsured last year.
It's meant to help Minnesotans eliminate or minimize 2015 federal tax penalties for not having health insurance.
The new enrollment period starts March 1 and runs through the end of April.
MPR News reporter Matt Sepic contributed to this report.