FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Jenni Bowring-McDonough
Media Relations Coordinator

ST. PAUL, Minn.- Minnesotans enrolled in Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare will not need to take any action to renew their coverage during the MNsure open enrollment period unless they are contacted by the Department of Human Services (DHS) with specific instructions.

Current enrollees in these publicly subsidized programs will not have to visit MNsure.org and fill out a new application for coverage during open enrollment, which begins November 15, 2014, for 2015 coverage.

"We want to avoid confusion and unnecessary work for those enrolled Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare," said MNsure CEO Scott Leitz. ""It's important that current Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare enrollees wait to receive renewal instructions before coming back to MNsure."

Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare enrollees make up the majority of current MNsure consumers. About 100,000 Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare households are due for renewal by the end of this year. To date, more than 310,000 people have signed up for public programs through MNsure.

"We want to assure Minnesotans in Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare that we will contact them before the end of the year if we need more information to renew their coverage," said DHS Commissioner Lucinda Jesson.

Current Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare enrollees with questions can call the DHS Member Help Desk at 651-431-2670 or 800-657-3739, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.