Small Group Health Insurance Market Working Group

What We Do

The Small Group Health Insurance Market Working Group was established by the Minnesota Legislature (2010 Session Law, Chapter 370) to study and report on the options available to increase rate predictability and stability for groups of 100 or fewer employees. The working group will analyze the implications of expanding the small employer market to 100 employees. Topics to be addressed in the study include, but are not limited to:

Analyzing the implementation options in expanding the spall group definition to 100 employees;
Underwriting concerns and rating requirements and the implications of change in small group market size on the entire health insurance market, and limitations on renewal, enrollment methodologies, and process;
Cost for employers, employees, brokers, and health plans;
How to assist employers in understanding the implications of employers migrating from fully insured to self-insured and associated risks;
A uniform application form;
Education and compliance issues related to the offering of Section 125 plans under Minnesota Statutes, section 62U.07; and
Assuring compliance with federal law, including the expeditious implementation of federal health care reform requirements.

Who We Are

Members of the working group include two representatives from the Minnesota Council of Health Plans, two representative from the Minnesota Association of Health Underwriters, one representative from the Insurance Federation of Minnesota, one representative from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, one representative from the National Federation of Independent Businesses - Minnesota, two representative from employers whose businesses employ 50 employees or fewer, two representatives from employers who businesses employ between 51 and 75 full-time employees, two representatives from employers whose businesses employ between 76 and 100 full-time employees, one representative from employees of business that employ 50 employees or fewer, one representative from employees that employ between 51 and 100 full-time employees, two senators, two members of the house of representatives, and the commissioner of commerce or the commissioner's designee.

Minnesota Council of Health Plans: Nancy Nelson, Joe Pupkus

Minnesota Association of Health Underwriters: Christopher Schneeman, Tom Aslesen

Insurance Federation of Minnesota: Joe Lotus

Minnesota Chamber of Commerce: John Sjoberg (Cecilia Retelle - Alternate)

National Federation of Independent Businesses - Minnesota: Mike Hickey

Minnesota Senate: Sen. Linda Scheid (DFL), Sen. Mike Parry (R)

Minnesota House of Representatives: Rep. Diane Loeffler (DFL), Rep. Denny McNamara (R)

Employer Representatives:

Sandra King (Employers whose businesses employ 50 employees or less)
Charles Terry (Employers whose businesses employ 50 employees or less)
Julie Pawlowski (Employers whose businesses employ 51-75 employees)
Alex Neutgens (Employers whose businesses employ 51-75 employees)
William Gullickson (Employers whose businesses employ 76-100 employees)
Suzette Frith (Employers whose businesses employ 76-100 employees)
Employee Representatives:

Teresa Pilaczynski (Employees of businesses that employ 50 employees or less)
Scott Walker (Employees of businesses that employ 51-100 employees)

Meetings & Minutes

Small Group Health Insurance Market Working Group are open to the public. These meetings are held every other Thursday from 1-3 p.m. Meetings dates and locations are posted on the Commerce Events Calendar on this website.

Agendas for upcoming Board meetings are posted by date here:

Minutes of previous Board meetings will be posted below as they become available.