Lawmakers in Minnesota aim to fast track a bill proposing health insurance premium relief for individuals purchasing health plans through the state's health insurance exchange, MPR News reports.
The $300 million proposal calls for $285 million in health insurance rebates for people who purchased individual health plans through the state's MNSure marketplace but do not qualify for government subsidies to offset premium costs. Roughly 125,000 Minnesota residents purchase individual ACA health plans without subsidy eligibility.
An additional part of the bill proposes a $15 million money pool used to help individuals who lost physicians due to insurance network changes with costs. Funding for the bill would come from Minnesota's rainy day fund, according to the report.
Minnesota House Speaker Kurt Daudt (R) predicts a bill will move off the House floor by next week. Legislators are strapped to get the bill signed before a Jan. 31 signup deadline.
"We're going to move fairly quickly to get this bill passed and on the governor's desk and the help in the hands of Minnesotans," Speaker Daudt said, according to the report.