The state would pick up the cost of care for seriously-ill Minnesotans, under a bill Minnesota House and Senate negotiators agreed on Wednesday — but Governor Mark Dayton wants assurances from H-M-Os that in exchange they’ll hold the line on premiums and stay in the market. D-F-L Senator Tony Lourey from Kerrick says, “Those are not unreasonable demands, in exchange for this level of public money being invested in the insurance industry.”
Top Democrats also want state-run MinnesotaCare available to more people as a health insurance option, but Republican Representative Greg Davids from Preston warns, “You’re gonna have a situation where very few providers would take MNCare patients ’cause they lose money on that.” Republicans warn if the governor doesn’t sign the reinsurance bill the legislature is poised to pass, even fewer health insurance offerings will be available in 2018.
More in this interview with Republican Senator Jim Abeler from Anoka: