Dayton pushes lawmakers again to open MinnesotaCare to all

DFL Gov. Mark Dayton on Thursday renewed his push to open MinnesotaCare, the state's subsidized health insurance program, to anyone who wants to buy coverage.

Under Dayton's plan, those wishing to buy in would pay for the full cost of the health insurance. Even with that, Dayton said Minnesotans could save a lot money if a MinnesotaCare option were available to everyone. The state, he added, could operate an insurance plan for less money than private insurers.

Dayton first pitched the idea of opening MinnesotaCare to all as part of his January 2017 State of the State speech.

"The dividing line is very clear for legislators: do you side with the insurance companies or do you side with the people of Minnesota?" Dayton said Thursday. "It's that clear-cut and we'll see how it proceeds accordingly."

Dayton said MinnesotaCare would break even under his plan. Republican legislative leaders say they don't support the proposal because they fear it would end up costing taxpayers.

"People say that you shouldn't have government competing with the private sector. Well competition's good for everybody," Dayton said. "It may not be what the providers like because nobody wants new competition, but it gives the consumers choice."