• an easy-to-use website where you can search and compare plans 
• a hotline you can call to talk with someone about your options 
• and places where you can sign up in your community 

• Be a one-stop place to shop for health insurance plans
• Lay out plan options side-by-side for easy comparison
• Ensure that plans meet certain baseline benefit standards
• Let you know if you qualify for tax credits or financial assistance
• Let you know if you qualify for a low-cost or free plan
• Allow you to apply and enroll online in health benefit plans 
• Show you what your potential cost will be
• Give you examples of average costs for common health services
• Show you quality ratings for hospitals and clinics in your community

Enrollment starts October 2013. Health plan coverage begins January 1, 2014.

Initially, individuals who are not covered under an employer’s plan and small businesses with up to 50 employees can use MNsure. Large employers may be allowed to participate in 2017.

There are no plans to add such products to MNsure.  Any expansion of product offerings would have to come from direction set by policymakers.

It depends on whether the benchmark plan (Essential Health Benefit package) contains "alternative medicine options."  That decision has not been made.

They indicate different levels of coverage. A Bronze level plan will cover roughly 60% of the costs of services it offers. Silver will cover roughly 70%, Gold will cover roughly 80% percent, and Platinum will cover roughly 90% of the costs of the benefits provided. A “Catastrophic Plan” will also be offered. It can help those who would not be required to purchase coverage because the premium exceeds 8% of their income.

Yes. Beginning January 1, 2014, all U.S. citizens and legal residents will be required to obtain health insurance coverage. Many will be covered by an employer plan, some will qualify for health programs, and others will purchase it themselves.

• In 2014, it will be the greater of $95 per adult or 1 percent of taxable income.
• In 2015, it will be the greater of $325 per adult or 2 percent of taxable income.
• In 2016, it will be the greater of $695 per adult or 2.5 percent of taxable income.
• After 2016, the tax penalty increases annually based on a cost-of-living adjustment.
• A person will only pay one-twelfth of the total annual penalty for each month without coverage.
• The penalty for a child is half that of an adult.
• A maximum penalty would be calculated based on premiums for plans offered through MNsure.

1. Individuals and families below a certain income 
2. People who cannot afford the coverage that is available 
3. Individuals who have been uninsured for less than three months 
4. Members of American Indian tribes 
5. People who do not obtain coverage because of religious objection

Maybe. You may qualify for a low-cost or free plan. Tax credits (called advanced premium tax credits) are available to individuals making $43,320 or less and a family of four making $88,200 or less. The amount of assistance is based on a sliding scale, so the higher your income, the lower the amount of assistance. Use our calculator  to estimate your savings and see examples of how the tax credit will work.

Definitely. Starting in 2014, no insurer can deny anyone health insurance based on health status, inside or outside of MNsure.

Yes.  However, tax credits (advanced premium tax credits) for individual and family buyers can only be obtained if you purchase your health coverage through MNsure.

If you or your family are buying your plan on your own (not through an employer) and want to use MNsure, you must be a resident of Minnesota. We are working with neighboring states on how to handle cross-border employment situations.

Accidents or sickness can happen to anybody. The average cost for a broken arm using hospital emergency services is $2,500. Who wants to be stuck with that kind of bill or other unexpected health care costs? Everybody uses the health care system at some point in his or her life. It’s a smart move to plan ahead and be prepared.

Insurers who offer plans outside MNsure will also offer plans onMNsure, and their network of doctors will likely be the similar to what’s in place today. It all depends on which plan you choose whether your doctor is part of the network. You will be able to look for your doctor in the offered plans and choose the option that works best for you.

At this time, supplemental coverage plans are not planned for the first year of operation.

No. You can purchase a plan outside MNsure if you’d like. Keep in mind, however, that tax credits (advanced premium tax credits) for individual and family buyers can only be obtained if you purchase your health coverage through MNsure. Many agents/brokers will also be able to offer you a plan listed with MNsure.

Yes. It is protected by state and federal laws, rules and regulations related to the storage, collection, use and dissemination of private or confidential information. Beyond the necessity to comply with applicable laws, Minnesota takes the obligation to keep personal information private very seriously. Besides putting all privacy requirements into the IT systems, we are ensuring that it is an integral part of the business operations culture. Our personnel will be able to access only the information that is necessary for them to perform their job.

We’ve put together some options for you.

• Attend a planning meeting . All are open to the public and each schedule time for public comments as a part of the agenda. 
• Review planning documents and submit your comments. 
• Send your thoughts to us directly . 
• Sign up on our email list to stay informed on what’s happening at MNsure. 

Federal tax credits are available now for qualifying taxable and tax-exempt organizations to help reduce the cost of coverage for employees. Small employers with fewer than 25 employees who provide health insurance may qualify for a federal tax credit of up to 50%.

Although employers are not required to offer health insurance to employees, most who employ more than 50 employees will pay an assessment if they don’t offer affordable coverage that covers minimum essential health benefits. Help determine if you qualify using our calculator.

Visit http://www.irs.gov/uac/Small-Business-Health-Care-Tax-Credit-for-Small-Employers for more information, and consult your tax advisor.

Sole proprietors will get insurance as individuals through the MNsure marketplace. The small employer group (often referred to as the SHOP) covers owners with 2-50 employees.

Possibly. That decision will be determined by future legislation. When it launches in 2014, MNsure will serve employers with 50 or fewer employees.

The Navigator and Agents/Brokers Work Group has discussed options and forwarded their report to the Advisory Task Force. Their findings will inform a policy bill that will be presented to the legislature for review and action in early 2013. Agents/brokers doing business with the MNsure exchange/marketplace will not be state employees but will remain independent. They will be required to complete specialized training.

No. A continued role is envisioned for agents/brokers both through MNsure and in the outside marketplace. However, what exact role they play, what certification standards may apply, and what the terms of compensation will be, have yet to be decided. From the initial planning stage, we have been working with agents, brokers and other stakeholders to discuss options. We will continue to seek suggestions and ideas.

There are no plans to incorporate such products and the Advisory Task Force has not addressed the issue. An expansion of MNsure's range of product offerings would have to come from future direction set by policymakers.

Possibly. That decision will be determined by future legislation. When it launches in 2014, the MNsure exchange/marketplace will serve employers with 50 or fewer employees.

To determine eligibility for cost-sharing protections, the ACA allows MNsure to verify AI/AN status using documentation of citizenship and electronic data sources approved by the Secretary of HHS or documents currently accepted by Medicaid showing tribal membership. Minnesota has suggested that IHS data should be included in the planned “data hub,” that would allow exchanges to access data from a number of federal sources to assist in enrolling people into insurance plans, and also that tribal data sources be considered.

Under the ACA, plans within MNsure may require the payment of deductibles or co-pays. To increase access to care, American Indians with incomes below 300% federal poverty levels, and all Indians who obtain services from or receive a referral from I/T/U providers, will be exempt from cost-sharing requirements.

MNsure is not intended to change the way the state’s health care programs operate or the ways states pay health care providers. In Minnesota, we expect to continue to pay IHS and tribal health care providers using the same methods that are currently used.