FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Jenni Bowring-McDonough
Media Relations Coordinator

Today, MNsure announced more than 120,000 Minnesotans have enrolled in comprehensive, affordable health insurance coverage through the state's health insurance marketplace. With an original goal of enrolling 135,000 Minnesotans, MNsure is on pace to meet or exceed that goal when open enrollment ends on March 31.

"We are averaging about 1,000 new enrollees every day," said interim CEO Scott Leitz. "We anticipate we will continue, or improve this pace, keeping us on track to meet our original goal of enrolling 135,000 Minnesotans during this open enrollment period."

The goal of enrolling 135,000 Minnesotans during the 2014 open enrollment period was discussed at the MNsure Board of Directors meeting on October 16, 2013.

"Our mission is to get as many Minnesotans covered as possible. Our distribution might not be what we originally projected, but we believe we will still hit our goal," said Leitz.

To date, MNsure has enrolled 33,722 in a qualified health plan, 23,950 in MinnesotaCare and 62,982 in Medical Assistance.

Monday, March 31, is the final deadline to make plan selection and payment for coverage starting May 1, 2014. This is also the last day of open enrollment and the last day to enroll in health insurance inside or outside of MNsure before the next open enrollment period begins on November 15, 2014, without facing a tax penalty.

This deadline does not apply to Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare recipients or participants in the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP).

All plans sold through MNsure cover important benefits such as preventive care, doctors' visits, hospitalizations, prescriptions, ER services, maternity care and more. Minnesotans with pre-existing conditions cannot be denied, and there are no lifetime limits on coverage. Financial assistance is available to help pay monthly insurance premiums. A single individual earning up to $45,960/year, or a family of four earning up to $94,200/year could qualify.