FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Jenni Bowring-McDonough
Media Relations Coordinator

ST. PAUL, Minn.-As the 2015 open enrollment period nears its end, MNsure is counting down with "15 Days, 15 Reasons To Use MNsure," a campaign featuring the benefits real Minnesotans see by getting quality, affordable health insurance coverage through MNsure.

"As we go through open enrollment, I think we're all guilty of getting hung up on enrollment numbers, projections and goals," said CEO Scott Leitz. "What we often forget, is that each one of those enrollments represents a person who is benefiting from better, more affordable health insurance coverage. That's why we're shining the spotlight on real Minnesotans during these last 15 days, to show just how much of an impact MNsure can have on someone."

"15 Days, 15 Reasons" will feature a different reason to use MNsure every day, starting Sunday, February 1, and ending on Sunday, February 15. The reasons will be featured on the MNsure.org homepage, and will serve as a reminder that the end of the 2015 open enrollment period is drawing close.

"It may be hard to believe, but there are now less than three weeks of open enrollment remaining," said Leitz. "After our marathon open enrollment period of six months last year, we don't want this shorter open enrollment period to catch anyone off guard. Anyone that still needs to get health insurance coverage for 2015 must act before February 15."

"15 Days, 15 Reasons" will launch with the story of Angie Gerlach, a navigator at Southside Community Health Services, who has been working hard this open enrollment providing free, in-person assistance, and explaining to college students reasons why they should get covered.

After we sit down with them and talk with them, they're really grateful for that time we can spend and remove some of those unknowns," said Gerlach. "The gratefulness and the profound impact that we're able to have as navigators and being able to provide this service is really gratifying.

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.