Significant differences remain as Governor Mark Dayton and Republicans try to negotiate a deal on reinsurance, that would have the state pick up the cost of care for the most seriously-ill Minnesotans in an effort to hold down increases in everyone else’s health insurance premiums. Dayton wants it paid for with an assessment on insurers. Republicans have a different idea — to which the governor says, “Coming from the General Fund and the Health Care Access Fund, it just drains those funds that should be used for people, kids and people who are sick.”
The governor asked health plan C-E-Os for a guarantee that they would not leave the market, and that health insurance premiums would be held to a specified amount — but Dayton says he has not received any response.