FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jenni Bowring-McDonough
Media Relations Coordinator

ST. PAUL, Minn-MNsure Executive Director April Todd-Malmlov today announced that MNsure reached new milestones in November as the number of people signing up more than doubled to 24,000. Todd-Malmlov said that more than 32,000 applications have been completed, which represent more than 70,000 Minnesotans.

"We are pleased that Minnesotans are accessing MNsure to secure quality, comprehensive and affordable health insurance," said Todd-Malmlov. "We anticipated that the number of consumers tapping into MNsure would increase as we neared the end of the year and that in fact is happening."

MNsure also extended the deadline for enrollment to December 23, 2013, for coverage effective on January 1, 2014, to give Minnesotans additional time to enroll in coverage offered through MNsure. Rates on MNsure are the lowest in the country and plans offer Minnesotans quality health coverage that fits consumers' needs and budgets.

All MNsure plans cover prescription drugs, emergency room care, and mental health and substance abuse treatment. They also include new consumer protections guaranteed by law including: no discrimination based on pre-existing conditions or gender, no annual dollar limit on coverage, no lifetime limit on coverage, a cap on out-of-pocket costs, allowing kids to stay on their parents' insurance until age 26, and requiring that at least 80 cents of every dollar people pay for health insurance is spent on health care.

About MNsure

Beginning January 1, 2014, all U.S. citizens and legal residents will be required to have health insurance coverage. For those Minnesotans who are uninsured, underinsured or looking for new coverage choices, MNsure is a one-stop health insurance marketplace where individuals, families and small businesses will be able to get quality health coverage at the lowest rates in the country. MNsure will empower more than 1 million Minnesotans to compare, choose and get help finding health care coverage. It will facilitate enrollment in public and private health insurance, determine eligibility for premium tax credits and allow Minnesotans to shop and compare between health care coverage options.

Open enrollment through MNsure began October 1, 2013, and runs through March 31, 2014. For more information about MNsure, how it will benefit Minnesota consumers and businesses and how to provide input visit mnsure.org.