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    Health Care Assistance

    man washing his hands More than ever, it’s important for Minnesotans to have access to healthcare. Minnesota’s programs enable families and individuals to seek the care they need to stay healthy and safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Insurance and health care assistance

    • Minnesota’s health insurance marketplace, MNsure.org, has options for Minnesotans in need of health insurance.
      • MNsure is offering a special enrollment period (SEP) for any Minnesotan who is uninsured or who is not currently enrolled in a qualified health plan through MNsure. This special enrollment period runs through July 16. Additionally, if your situation changes, such as income loss or job-based insurance loss, you may qualify for enrollment. Eligible families can enroll in Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare at any time. Find out more about eligibility or access the information in another language. Insurance professionals are available to provide free MNsure assistance to help you successfully enroll. Find assistance using MNSure’s Assister Directory.
      • Loss of employer-sponsored health insurance. Minnesotans who lose their health insurance through their employer may qualify for a special enrollment period to enroll in a plan through MNsure.org.
      • Other qualifying life events. Minnesotans who experience another life event such as getting married, giving birth to or adopting a child, or moving may also be eligible to shop for coverage.
      • Health care program for people with low to no incomes. Minnesota’s public health care programs provide health care coverage to Minnesotans with low to no income. We encourage anyone who needs health care coverage to apply to see if you qualify for Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare, including those Minnesotans who had work hours reduced, have been furloughed or who have lost their jobs.
      • American Indian Tribal Members. Members of a federally recognized American Indian tribe can also sign up at any time year-round on MNsure.org.
    • COVID-19 Coverage on MNsure. All four medical insurance companies selling private health insurance plans on MNsure are waiving co-pays, co-insurance and deductibles related to COVID-19 diagnostic testing and cost sharing for in-network COVID-19 hospitalization through December 31, 2020. Additionally, the Minnesota Department of Human Services has removed any cost-sharing for the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 for all Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare enrollees. Minnesotans who are charged for these services, or have other concerns about COVID-19 and their health insurance policy, can file a complaint with the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s Consumer Service Center.
    • Get free help. MNsure has a statewide network of expert assisters who can help Minnesotans apply and enroll for health care coverage for free. The Department of Human Services has more resources on applying for low to no-cost health insurance.
    • Free COVID-19 testing. Many uninsured Minnesotans can get tested for COVID-19 at no cost to them during the federal public health emergency. Ask the health care provider administering your COVID-19 test for an application to cover the cost of the test. Or, go online and print the application yourself and fill it out. You can also connect with a navigator in your community to help you get enrolled in free testing over the phone. Navigators can help in several different languages. Search the directory for the language easiest for you in which to communicate.
    • Changes to public health care programs to respond to the pandemic. The state and federal government are working together to ensure services to vulnerable Minnesotans through the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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