ST. PAUL, Minn.—Residents in southeastern Minnesota will have more health plan choices for 2021. Madison-based health insurance company, Quartz, anticipates offering plans in Fillmore, Houston, Olmstead, Wabasha and Winona counties, which make up part of MNsure’s Rating Area 1. The final 2021 health plans and rates offered through MNsure will be announced by the Minnesota Department of Commerce on October 2.

"We are excited to partner with Quartz this coming year," said MNsure CEO Nate Clark. "Adding an additional health insurance company means more options for Minnesotans in the southeastern part of the state."

Quartz will join MNsure's six other partnering insurance companies: Blue Plus, HealthPartners, Medica, and UCare for medical coverage; and Dentegra and Delta Dental for dental coverage.

MNsure's open enrollment period for the 2021 plan year runs Sunday, November 1, 2020, through Tuesday, December 22, 2020 (at 11:59 p.m.). All plans selected during this time will have a January 1, 2021, effective date. Consumers will be able to view and compare 2021 plans in mid-October so they can be prepared to enroll in coverage starting November 1.

Most Minnesotans qualify for financial help

Tax credits, cost-sharing reductions, or no-cost or low-cost coverage under Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare is available to /financial-help/index.jspthose who qualify. An individual earning up to $51,040 a year, or a family of four earning up to $104,800 a year may be eligible for financial assistance. Updated /financial-help/income-guidelines/index.jspincome guidelines for plan year 2021 are located on MNsure.org.

Free over-the-phone help available

MNsure has a /help/find-assister/index.jspstatewide network of over 1,600 expert assisters who provide free, over-the-phone help for individuals looking to apply and enroll into health coverage. Appointments are filling up for the upcoming open enrollment period.

About Quartz

Quartz Health Solutions, Inc. (Quartz) is jointly owned by UW Health, Gundersen Health System and UnityPoint Health. The company manages four nationally recognized, provider-sponsored health insurance plans: Quartz Health Benefit Plans Corporation, Quartz Health Plan Corporation, Quartz Health Plan MN Corporation and Quartz Health Insurance Corporation. As a third-party administrator, Quartz also services self-funded health plans. Quartz focuses on local, community-based health care and services for more than 350,000 customers who live in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota. For more information, visit QuartzBenefits.com.

About MNsure

MNsure is Minnesota's health insurance marketplace where individuals and families can shop, compare and choose health insurance coverage that meets their needs. MNsure is the only place you can apply for financial help to lower the cost of your monthly insurance premium and out-of-pocket costs. Most Minnesotans who enroll through MNsure qualify for financial help.