Health Coverage Options

The Minnesota Health Information Clearinghouse provides an overview of health coverage options, information on and a list of individual and family plans and small employer plans licensed to sell in Minnesota, information on COBRA and Minnesota continuation coverage, prescription drug coverage, Medicare coverage, and long-term care insurance.

Overview of Health Coverage Options in Minnesota

Guide to Purchasing Health Insurance

• Individual or group coverage
• Grandfathered plans
• Health insurance marketplace
• Market reforms and conformance with the ACA
• Medicare coverage
• Short term coverage
• COBRA and continuation coverage

Guide to Additional Health Care Resources

• Senior Information
• Free or Reduced Cost Health Care
• Lower Cost Dental Services
• Health Care for Children with Disabilities
• General Insurance Information
• Prescription Drugs
• Small Employer Information

COBRA: How to Continue Your Health Care Coverage discusses COBRA and Minnesota continuation coverage.

Portability: Minnesota Health Information Clearinghouse Frequently Asked Questions and Answers discusses your health care coverage when you change jobs or change from one health plan company to another.

Individual and Family Health Plans available in Minnesota

• Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association. This health plan sells health coverage to people who apply for health insurance in the private market but get rejected due to preexisting conditions. 
• MinnesotaCare, a public program, where you pay a premium based on family size and income. You must qualify to be enrolled. MinnesotaCare is provided through the Minnesota Department of Human Services, 651 297-3862 or 1-800-627-3672.

Medicare Health Plans Available in Minnesota

• Medicare website lists Medicare plans available in Minnesota. Compare health plans and medigap policies in your area. Compare Medicare prescription drug plans. Read about the different types of health plans: Medigap, Medicare Advantage, Medicare related health plans, Original Medicare and their prices.

Prescription Coverage

• List of Medicare Part D prescription plans in your area on the federal government Medicare website.

Small Employer Health Plans

• Minnesota Health Information Clearinghouse Frequently Asked Questions and Answers has questions and answers on small employer health insurance.

Additional Information:

COBRA and Minnesota Continuation Coverage

• You continue with the employer group coverage you had, usually for a limited period of 18 or 36 months. In determining COBRA premiums, the plan can include the costs paid by employees and the employer, plus an additional 2 percent for administrative costs. To get this coverage a "qualifying event" must occur.
• COBRA - How to Continue Your Health Coverage on the Managed Care Systems Section website lists some of these qualifying events and other information about COBRA and Minnesota continuation coverage.
• For additional information on federal COBRA regulations, see the U. S. Department of Labor website.

Long-Term Care Insurance

• The Minnesota Department of Commerce provides some information about long-term care insurance. They do not show a list of companies that sell long-term coverage.
• For additional information on purchasing long-term care insurance, view a copy of Shopper's Guide to Long-Term Care Insurance, revised 2019 (PDF) published by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Call 1-816-783-8300.
• The Senior LinkAge Line Age Well Live Well Booklet has a section on long-term care planning and financing. This booklet is published by the Minnesota Board on Aging.