General Resources
Enrollment Resources
Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare
The FAQ below about renewing private coverage are related to the 2019 open enrollment period, which ended January 13. If you are enrolled in private health coverage through MNsure, you will be notified of the steps to take to renew your coverage during the next open enrollment period, which begins this fall.
Every year, insurance companies can decide what products they will offer on MNsure. From year to year, those products may change. Under federal and state law, insurance companies are required to renew you into the same plan you had last year. However, the price for that plan may have gone up and insurance companies are not required to offer you any financial help. The only way to qualify for financial help like tax credits, cost-sharing reductions or low/no cost plans is to shop and compare directly on MNsure.org.
Plan choices and premium amounts change each year. Your premium amount (including tax credits and other financial help) may change on January 1 even if you stay in the same plan. It is best to review next year's plans and your updated eligibility for financial help, and then sign up for the plan that is right for you and your family by the December deadline for January 1 coverage.
Although you can change plans through the end of the open enrollment period, those changes will be applied going forward. Amounts you may pay toward deductibles or out-of-pocket maximums in one plan will not be applied toward a different plan should you change your mind during the open enrollment period.
You must pay your premium directly to the insurance company. You will receive an invoice showing your payment amount.
Family members currently enrolled in Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare do not have to take any action to renew their coverage unless directed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
If your current plan will no longer be available through MNsure, your insurance company will inform you of this change. The easiest way to make sure you are getting the best deal is to come back to MNsure.org at the start of open enrollment to shop and compare plans. You can see if your plan is available using the "crosswalk tool." If your plan is not available and you do not log in to your account and shop for a plan by December 15, your coverage through MNsure will end on December 31, 2018.
If you would like to keep your same plan, and it is still offered on MNsure, MNsure will automatically renew you into the same plan. You will continue to receive an invoice from your insurance company and must continue to make payments in order to maintain coverage. To ensure your coverage is renewed, you must respond promptly to any requests for additional information.
NOTE: If your plan is available in 2019, some features may change, like network, deductibles and co-pays. For this reason it’s a good idea to review the summary of benefits and coverage (SBC) for your plan before you renew. You can find SBCs for all plans offered on MNsure using the shop and compare tool. If you have questions about your plan, call your insurance company.
If you would like to keep your same plan but it is no longer offered on MNsure, your insurance company will automatically enroll you in that same plan if it is still available and you will not receive any financial help. Because of this you are strongly encouraged to come back to MNsure.org at start of open enrollment and shop and compare plans to ensure you are getting the best deal and the best coverage for you and your family.
If you do not want to be automatically renewed in your current plan or your current plan or insurance company is no longer available through MNsure, you must log in to your MNsure account during open enrollment and select a different plan by the deadline for January 1 coverage. This will ensure you are getting the best deal and most comprehensive coverage for you and your family. If you do not act by December 15, 2018, you will be automatically renewed in your current plan for January 1 coverage.
If you enroll in a health insurance plan through MNsure with a different health insurance company, MNsure will alert your old insurance company of your decision. However, it would be in your best interest to contact your previous year's insurance company right away about your decision, especially if you are signed up for automatic debit payments with that company. Please work with your insurance company directly to understand the timing of when your automatic debit payment will be withdrawn and how much advance notice they require to stop that from occurring if you decide to change companies. You should assume your insurance company will process your automatic debit payment on your current schedule.
You are able to make changes to your chosen plan only during open enrollment unless you qualify for a special enrollment period. It is important to note that any changes will take effect going forward (for example, changes made on or after December 15 will take effect February 1). Amounts you may pay toward deductibles or out-of-pocket maximums in one plan will not be applied toward a different plan should you change your mind during the open enrollment period. Please note you cannot change plans or receive adjustments to tax credits retroactively.
Report changes within 30 days of the change event. Tell us about all changes including changes to:
If you are not sure if you should report a change, call the MNsure Contact Center and explain what is happening. If you do not tell us you moved and returned mail has no forwarding address, coverage may end. You cannot use your annual renewal notice to report changes by mail.
If you want to end your coverage through MNsure and do not want to be automatically renewed into a plan for next year, call the MNsure Contact Center.
No. MNsure remains the only place where consumers can qualify for financial help either through federal tax credits and cost-sharing reductions or the MinnesotaCare and Medical Assistance programs to help pay the cost for their health insurance plan.
You can view your updated eligibility for next year, including any updated tax credit amounts and cost-sharing reductions, on the renewal notice that you receive from MNsure. You also can log into your MNsure.org account, click on "Go to my account" and either select the link for "Notifications" to view an electronic copy of your renewal notice or select the link for "View Next Year Eligibility Results."
The answer to that depends on a number of factors including:
Your eligibility for financial help (advanced premium tax credit or cost-sharing reductions) is updated annually by MNsure. Your eligibility is based on the most recent information that you reported to MNsure.
In most cases, if your renewal qualifies you for a tax credit for next year you will be automatically re-enrolled in the same plan offered through MNsure and the updated amount of tax credit will be applied to your new premium amount. If your renewal qualifies you for cost-sharing reductions for next year and you are either automatically re-enrolled in the same silver plan or a new silver plan offered through MNsure for the coming year, you will continue to receive cost-sharing reductions.
If you are an American Indian receiving cost-sharing reductions you do not need to be on a silver plan to continue to receive the same cost-sharing reductions in your plan.
If an advanced premium tax credit was applied to your coverage in a previous year and you have not filed a tax return for that year, you will no longer be eligible for advanced payments of the premium tax credit or cost-sharing reductions in the coming year. You should file a tax return as soon as possible.
If you did not provide consent for MNsure to use your federal tax information to renew coverage for the coming year, you will no longer be eligible for financial help.
If an advanced premium tax credit was applied to your coverage in a previous year to help pay for coverage and you have not filed a tax return with IRS Form 8962 for that year, you will no longer be eligible for advanced payments of the premium tax credit or cost-sharing reductions. You should file a tax return as soon as possible, including a completed IRS Form 8962.
You should have received a Form 1095-A – Health Insurance Marketplace Statement from MNsure to help fill out Form 8962 and file your federal income tax return for any previous year in which you received tax credits. If you did not receive a copy of this form, call the MNsure Contact Center. After you file your tax return, call the MNsure Contact Center to report that information.
No. The best way to make sure you are getting the best deal for you and your family is to visit MNsure.org during the annual open enrollment period to shop and compare plans.
A tax credit lowers your monthly private health plan insurance premium costs. MNsure will apply the full amount available to you towards the cost of your premium unless you have indicated otherwise. The cost-sharing reductions are a discount that lowers the amount you have to pay out of pocket for deductibles, co-insurance and co-payments.
Your eligibility for a tax credit or cost-sharing reductions is based on the most recent information that you reported to MNsure. Be sure to report changes and submit any requested proof as soon as possible. If you submit information that is not truthful or accurate, your private health plan coverage may be terminated and you may have to repay any payments that you are not entitled to, including advance payment of premium tax credits.
If you were notified by MNsure that you need to complete an application, log in to your MNsure account on or after November 1 and update your eligibility by completing an application for insurance WITH financial help. (If you do not want to see if you are eligible for financial help, you can apply for health insurance WITHOUT financial help.)
After you have finished the application, your eligibility to purchase a plan through MNsure and to receive financial help will be updated for the new year.
Most applicants will have their eligibility automatically renewed and do not need to complete an application. To ensure that you continue to receive any financial help for which you qualify, be sure to respond promptly to any MNsure request for additional information.
