FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: John Pollard
Legislative and Communications Director
651-201-8039

ST. PAUL, MN - Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) announced today that the state has received a $42.5 million federal grant to continue the design and development of a Minnesota health insurance exchange. Prior to today, Minnesota had secured three federal grants totaling $28.5 million to plan and develop a health insurance exchange.

"This grant allows us to continue the technical work needed to allow Minnesota to design and develop a state-based exchange," said MMB Commissioner Jim Schowalter.

Exchange Executive Director April Todd-Malmlov added, With open enrollment starting on Oct 1, 2013, this grant is urgently needed to perform the critical development work to keep the project on track.

Commissioner Schowalter stressed that MMB will continue working closely with the Health Insurance Exchange Advisory Task Force, key stakeholders, and legislators to ensure the continuing work of designing and developing Minnesota's exchange is open and transparent. The Task Force is meeting today in Cloquet.

More than 1 million Minnesotans are expected to access quality, affordable health insurance through Minnesota's Health Insurance Exchange, saving $1 billion every year on health care costs. The exchange will serve the needs of individuals and small employers. It will facilitate enrollment in public health insurance and private insurance products, calculate eligibility for tax credits and allow Minnesotans to shop and compare between insurance products. The Exchange will also provide information on quality of health insurers and health care providers.

Enrollment in the Minnesota Health Insurance Exchange begins October 1, 2013. For more information about the new online health insurance marketplace, how it will benefit Minnesota consumers and businesses, and how to provide input or learn more about the stakeholder process visit the Minnesota Health Insurance Exchange website.