FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Jenni Bowring-McDonough
Media Relations Coordinator

ST. PAUL, Minn.-In an effort to raise awareness about the benefits available to women and families through MNsure, the organization is launching targeted outreach to this population during "Women and Families Week," January 10 - 18.

"According to the U.S. Department of Labor, women make approximately 80 percent of the health care decisions for their families and are more likely to be the care givers when a family member falls ill," said CEO Scott Leitz. "It is important for us to make sure women and families in Minnesota are aware of the benefits available to them through MNsure, and take advantage of those benefits."

Only through MNsure can women and families see if they qualify for financial help to assist with health insurance premium payments. Minnesota also provides expanded Medical Assistance coverage to pregnant women and children under 18, meaning more financial help is available for those that might not otherwise be able to afford health insurance coverage.

"Minnesota has some of the most generous financial help requirements in the country when it comes to women and children," said Leitz. "I hope uninsured women or families will check out MNsure, or seek help from a MNsure-certified navigator or broker to get the coverage they need."

To assist with Women and Families Week, MNsure is relying on the expertise of its grantee partners already active in reaching out to these groups.

"Especially for single women with children, a tremendous obstacle in moving out of poverty is their ability to obtain quality health care at an affordable cost," said John D. Fitzgerald, executive director of Western Community Action in Marshall. "As a MNsure partner, we've helped individuals and families secure quality, affordable coverage that removes the choice between being insured or meeting basic needs. MNsure has been a great tool in putting women and families on a pathway out of poverty.

"Our navigators are seeing far too many women who have gone 20, even 30, years without any type of annual exam because they lacked health insurance," said Ruth Sherman, director of Community Resource Connections in Bemidji, another outreach and enrollment grantee. "Through MNsure, our navigators are able to connect clients to affordable coverage options, allowing them to access the preventive care that can truly save their physical and financial lives."

This coming week, MNsure partners will host enrollment events geared especially for women and families. For a full list of outreach and enrollment events, visit our calendar.

Centro Tyrone Guzman
Saturday, January 10, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
1915 Chicago Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55404
Enrollment assistance provided by navigators from Centro

360 Communities
501 Minnesota 13 #102, Burnsville, MN 55337
Monday, January 12, noon - 4 p.m.
Enrollment assistance provided by navigators from CLUES

Brooklyn Center Health Resource Center
6500 Humboldt Ave. N, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
Tuesday, January 13, 1 - 4:30 p.m.
Enrollment assistance provided by navigators from Portico Healthnet

West St. Paul YMCA
150 Thompson Ave. E, West Saint Paul, MN 55118
Wednesday, January 14, 3:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Enrollment assistance provided by navigators from United Family Medicine

Marshall Area YMCA
200 South A Street, Marshall, MN 56258
Wednesday, January 14, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Event organized and enrollment assistance provided by Western Community Action

Olmsted County Family Support and Assistance
2117 Campus Drive SE, Suite 100, Rochester, MN 55904
Thursday, January 15, 1 - 4 p.m.
Enrollment assistance provided by navigators from Intercultural Mutual Assistance Association

Open enrollment for 2015 coverage began November 15, 2014, and ends February 15, 2015. 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.