FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Jenni Bowring-McDonough
Media Relations Coordinator

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Fifty more customer service representatives joined the MNsure call center today, providing additional help to reduce wait times for Minnesota consumers and provide better service to Minnesotans seeking quality, affordable health insurance. This surge of new call center representatives is coming at an important time, as Minnesotans seeking coverage beginning March 1 are required to enroll and pay for that coverage on or before February 15.

"By adding significant capacity to our call center staffing, MNsure is taking a crucial step to improve customer service and ensure that Minnesotans who want coverage beginning March 1 get the help they need to meet the upcoming February 15 deadline," said MNsure's interim Chief Executive Officer Scott Leitz. "This new surge of help will build on the significant progress we have made in recent weeks to reduce wait times and enroll more Minnesotans in affordable health care coverage."

MNsure has already helped more than 90,000 Minnesotans enroll in quality, affordable health insurance. As open enrollment continues, MNsure is bringing all hands on deck to reduce wait times, and ensure every Minnesotan who wants to enroll in coverage through MNsure has the time and assistance they need to do so efficiently.

Another 50 call center staff will join MNsure beginning February 26 after a week-long training period, completing a customer service surge of 100 new well-trained, temporary call center workers. Their only focus throughout the remainder of Open Enrollment will be helping Minnesotans access high quality health insurance coverage they need at a price they can afford.

The plan to add overflow call center staff, provided by APAC Customer Services, Inc., was made public at the February 5 MNsure Board meeting. Five new MNsure Contact Center employees are also on the phones at the MNsure Contact Center in St. Paul beginning today. The representatives from APAC Customer Services, Inc., will work out of the company's Mendota Heights location.