FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Jenni Bowring-McDonough
Media Relations Coordinator

ST. PAUL, Minn.-Minnesotans who want commercial health insurance coverage beginning January 1 have until noon Wednesday, December 31, to complete enrollment through MNsure.

"We extended the enrollment deadline to allow Minnesotans who are eligible for financial assistance ample time to get covered, and to align enrollment deadlines throughout the state," said CEO Scott Leitz. "As time ticks down toward this deadline, we urge those consumers who still need coverage beginning January 1 to take action now."

Minnesotans seeking assistance from the MNsure Contact Center on December 31 will experience a delay in reaching an agent. The Contact Center has received record numbers of calls during the open enrollment period, especially on deadline days. It is important to remember that if you have already enrolled and received an email confirmation from MNsure, your enrollment is complete and you do not need to call to confirm your enrollment or take any further action until you receive /assets/MNsure-coverage-scenarios-jan2015_tcm34-184332.pdfinformation from your insurance company.

"As is true on any deadline day, we fully expect that the Contact Center will be extremely busy Wednesday, and wait times will increase as a result," Leitz added. "We will have extra staff on hand to assist with greater call volume, but wait times will still increase."

The Contact Center will be open on December 31 between 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., and can be reached at 1-855-366-7873. The Contact Center will be closed on New Year's Day, January 1.

Once enrollment is complete, consumers who enroll in commercial coverage will receive an invoice from their health insurance company. Consumers must pay their health insurance company directly.

Minnesotans eligible for MinnesotaCare and Medical Assistance can enroll year-round.

MNsure enrollment numbers will not be updated again until Monday, January 5.

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.