Minnesota: MNsure reports record enrollments, up 14% y/y so far; you still have time to #GetCovered!

via MNsure:

Over 150k Minnesotans have signed up for health insurance since November 1

ST. PAUL, Minn.—Following last year’s incredible enrollment success, MNsure is pleased to report yet another new record for health insurance sign-ups in Minnesota.

Between November 1 and the first deadline (December 18), 151,098 Minnesotans used MNsure.org to sign up for qualified health plans. This represents a 14% increase in private health plan sign-ups compared to the same time last year.

This is excellent news, however, as happens every year with MNsure, it comes with a big caveat.

As I noted a year ago:

This is great, but the 11% higher y/y figure is a bit confusing to me, actually.

According to the official CMS 2023 Open Enrollment Period (OEP) Public Use File, MNsure enrolled 111,693 people thru 12/17 last year, or 2,376 per day. This year they've enrolled 132,789 people thru 12/15, or 2,951/day, which is over 24% higher year over year. For that matter, last year's final OEP enrollment tally was only 118,431, which means their current total is already over 12% higher.

However, MNsure has included small group plans and/or dental-only enrollees in the past, so that might explain the discrepancy. Either way it's still an impressive figure.

So, I'll say it again this year: According to the official CMS 2024 OEP PUF, MNsure enrolled 125,384 people thru 12/16 last year, or 2,726/day. They claim to have enrolled 151,098 thru 12/18 this year, or 3,148/day, which would be 15.5% higher, not 14% higher.

151,098 would be 14% higher than 132,542 (or something close to that), so there seems to be roughly a ~1,700 enrollee discrepancy here.

If the 151K figure really does only include individual market Qualified Health Plans (QHPs), that means they're actually already 11.9% ahead of last year's final OEP tally of 135,001.

Again, either way it's still impressive.

“We’re proud of the steady growth, year over year, that MNsure continues to see,” said MNsure CEO Libby Caulum. “Each sign-up represents another neighbor finding comprehensive coverage and having access to the care they need. Sixty percent of MNsure enrollees are eligible for financial help that lowers their health care costs. They aren’t just getting insurance – most are saving money, too.”

With enhanced federal tax credits only available through MNsure, eligible families are expected to save an average of $561 per month (over $6,700/year) in 2025. All Minnesotans can continue to find a plan with premiums that cost no more than 8.5% of their annual household income, thanks to federal laws that improve affordability.

Still time to enroll for 2025

Minnesotans who need health insurance for next year still have time to apply and enroll before the final deadline on January 15, 2025. Consumers who sign up between December 19 and January 15 will have coverage that starts February 1.

MNsure’s statewide network of certified brokers and navigators can help Minnesotans sign up before the January 15 deadline in person, by phone or through virtual appointments – at no cost to consumers. Consumers can connect with a local, trusted broker or navigator for free help in their language by searching MNsure’s Assister Directory.

The open enrollment deadlines do not apply to Minnesotans who qualify for Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare or members of federally recognized tribes, who can use MNsure.org to enroll in health insurance any time of year.