FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Jenni Bowring-McDonough
Media Relations Coordinator

Working with community partners that already serve this community, MNsure is hosting outreach and enrollment events focused on getting all of Minnesota's children insured by launching Children's Week, December 15 - 21, 2014.

"A child's health care can be expensive," said CEO Scott Leitz. "Kids can easily get hurt while running around and playing, catch the latest sickness from daycare or school, or develop a chronic illness like asthma that requires lifelong treatment. We want to make sure every Minnesota child has the coverage they need."

MNsure plans allow children to get periodic well-baby, child and adolescent exams, immunizations and annual eye exams, all at no additional cost. Children can also be on their own health insurance policy through MNsure, and have extended eligibility for Minnesota's public health care programs Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare, meaning families can often save money on premiums.

"The Minnesota Department of Health estimates 80,000 Minnesota children were uninsured in 2013," said Leitz. "We're hopeful that number has decreased since MNsure launched, along with Minnesota's overall uninsured rate, but no child should be without health insurance in this state."

Organizations that work with children and families throughout Minnesota support the outreach effort.

As the state's largest pediatric health system, Children's Hospitals and Clinics supports MNsure's efforts to insure more children and families," said Philip M. Kibort, MD, chief medical officer at Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, a MNsure Certified Application Counselor organization. "We know how important it is for children and their families to have affordable access to the primary and specialty care they need at the time they need it the most.

"Health insurance coverage plays a critical role in ensuring appropriate access to comprehensive and appropriate health care for children with disabilities," said Steve Piekarski, chief program officer of The Arc Greater Twin Cities, a MNsure grantee. "Early access to health care means that child is able to maximize health, well-being, and increases their independence and community participation."

Specific education and enrollment events aimed at children and families are listed below. Additional details and the ability to RSVP to these events can be found on the Enrollment Opportunities calendar on the MNsure.org homepage. MNsure-certified navigators and brokers will be at each event to answer questions, complete enrollments or schedule future enrollment appointments.

MNsure Open House with Rep. Keith Ellison
Summit Academy OIC
935 Olson Memorial Highway, Minneapolis
Monday, December 15, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

MNsure Education and Enrollment Open House
The Family Partnership
4123 East Lake Street, Minneapolis
Thursday, December 18, 10 a.m. - noon
Spanish speaking services will be available at this event

MNsure Education and Enrollment Open House
The Family Partnership
1501 Xerxes Avenue North, Minneapolis
Friday, December 19, 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

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.