FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Jenni Bowring-McDonough
Media Relations Coordinator

ST. PAUL, Minn.- Camping, hiking, sailing and other summertime activities are eagerly anticipated by Minnesotans who suffer through interminable winters, but accidental injuries can lead to doctor's visits and medical bills. Because many Minnesotans may be eligible to enroll into health insurance outside of the regular open enrollment period, MNsure is launching the "100 Days of Summer" campaign via its social media platforms, reminding Minnesotans to find out if they're eligible to get covered.

"Warmer weather means being on the lakes, on the trails and on the move-and nobody likes to think about accidents. But they do happen, and it is then when health coverage becomes important quickly," said interim CEO Allison O'Toole. "'Whether you're graduating from college and leaving student health insurance behind, you're adding a baby to the family or you're eligible for coverage from MinnesotaCare or Medical Assistance, this is a great time to see what your coverage options are through MNsure."

"100 Days of Summer" will include likeable, shareable and tweetable content on MNsure's Facebook and Twitter platforms invoking summertime fun while also calling out the need to get covered.

Though the open enrollment period for 2015 has ended, people with qualifying life events can still enroll. This includes college graduates who lose university- or employer-sponsored health insurance, people who get married or divorced, those who lose their coverage due to a job loss, and more. Information about qualifying life events is available online at MNsure.org.

Minnesotans whose income makes them eligible for MinnesotaCare or Medical Assistance can enroll into those public programs year-round.

Anyone with questions about enrollment eligibility can call the MNsure Contact Center at 855-366-7873, or work with an in-person assister, available free of charge across the state. Find an assister in your area by checking out MNsure's online directory.

The 2016 open enrollment period is scheduled to begin November 1, 2015, and end on January 31, 2016. Minnesotans eligible for Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare can enroll year-round. As of May 2014, 95 percent of Minnesotans have health coverage--the highest percentage in state history.