Flood watches are posted for the southern half of Minnesota ahead of a round of storms that could bring 1-4 inches of rain

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 have applied for unemployment insurance since March 16, according to the Department of Employment and Economic Development. And many of those people have lost their employer-sponsored health coverage or are no longer able to afford their private insurance.

Nate Clark, chief executive officer of MNsure, the state’s health insurance exchange, said job or income loss qualify as life events that allow people to sign up for coverage outside of the regular enrollment period. 

How to get health insurance now

, they may be eligible for assistance paying their premium or public health benefits, such as Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare. But they must apply within 60 days of their job change. 

Clark recommended going to the exchange’s website, but said you can also apply by phone and connect with a 

During a special enrollment period last month to get more Minnesotans insured before the COVID-19 outbreak, 9,500 people signed up for private insurance plans and another 13,000 qualified for public benefits, Clark said. 

“The systems are doing very well and we’re really confident in our ability to help Minnesotans connect with the coverage they need,” he told MPR News host Tom Crann.

Hear their full conversation using the audio player above.

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Minnesotans who have lost jobs or income due to the pandemic, and others, can sign up for health coverage on the state’s insurance exchange. Some may qualify for help paying their premiums.

MNsure offers special enrollment for those who've lost jobs, health coverage

A man wearing a blue shirt poses for a picture at a desk. 

MNsure offers special enrollment for those who've lost jobs, health coverage

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