On a 73-54 vote, the Republican-led House Thursday passed a health insurance premium relief-reform bill that aims to help more than 125,000 Minnesotans.
House Minority Leader Melissa Hortman from Brooklyn Park summed up what she sees as the major differences between Democrats’ and Republicans’ solution to the problem by saying “the governor’s plan is quick and easy, the Republican plan is slow and complicated.” But bill author Joe Hoppe of Chaska says the challenge in getting help to Minnesotans is “not just to do what we can to get people some relief in 2017, but to make sure that we’re not making the problem worse in 2018.”
The bill offers a 25 percent premium reduction for qualifying Minnesotans who who earn between $35,640 & $95,040 and families of four who earn between $72,900 & $194,400. And it allows for patients with serious illnesses or those receiving end-of-life care to continue seeing their doctor.
Hoppe admits the bill is not perfect…
Hortman reminded lawmakers on the House floor Thursday:
The Senate passed its version of a health relief bill last week. Next week, conference committees will hash out the details of the bills before they get to the governor’s desk–which House Speaker Kurt Daudt says he hopes will happen by next Thursday.