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August 14, 2015
Will allow consumers alternative to
traditionally high-cost COBRA coverage
ST. PAUL, Minn.- MNsure announced today it is offering a limited special enrollment period for Minnesotans who were offered and enrolled in Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) coverage, but who received insufficient information to understand alternative options available to them through MNsure.
"COBRA coverage is often very expensive, and is often offered at a time when the individual is experiencing hardship such as the loss of a job," said interim CEO Allison O'Toole. "We hope this special enrollment period will allow current COBRA enrollees to reevaluate their situation, and come to MNsure to see if they can find a plan that meets their needs at a lower cost."
The COBRA special enrollment period will begin on Monday, August 17, 2015, and continue through Thursday, October 15, 2015. Consumers must contact MNsure, select a qualified health plan and enroll between these dates. The special enrollment period will be available to Minnesotans who meet the following criteria:
- COBRA coverage was offered and the individual enrolled in that coverage during the past 18 months,
- The individual is currently enrolled in COBRA coverage, or ended it prior to or during the special enrollment period, and
- The individual did not enroll in a qualified health plan through MNsure since being offered COBRA coverage.
A consumer's eligibility to enroll during this special enrollment period will be verified by MNsure before coverage goes into effect.
"We believe there is insufficient information out there right now for COBRA enrollees about their alternative coverage options. We hope this special enrollment period will provide some clarity," said O'Toole. "We will accompany this special enrollment period with targeted outreach messages so Minnesotans that fall into this category are made aware of this special enrollment period. We are also working with other state agencies to make alternative COBRA options clear moving forward."
More information about this COBRA special enrollment period, as well as specific enrollment requirements, will be available on MNsure.org beginning Monday, August 17, 2015.
The 2016 open enrollment period is scheduled to begin November 1, 2015, and end on January 31, 2016. Minnesotans eligible for Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare can enroll year round. As of May 2014, 95 percent of Minnesotans have health coverage-the highest percentage in state history.
For Navigator help outside the Duluth area use the Assister Directory on the MNsure homepage.
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Bob Friskey was forced to close his dump truck hauling business when the economic downturn caused the construction industry to suffer huge cutbacks. Once Bob accepted that his business was not going to rebound, he began exploring his options to replace that income. Bob contacted the Northeast Minnesota Office of Job Training and participated in career assessments to determine his best career path. Work in computer technology had always interested him and when this career path appeared strong in his assessments, he was drawn to the idea of obtaining a degree in Computer Network Administration. Bob was hesitant because he lacked confidence in his ability to be successful in postsecondary training but Bob's Career Counselor, Teri Dudley of the Cloquet Workforce Center, had the confidence in Bob that he lacked himself and encouraged him to at least give it a try.
xiety caused Bob to get a low score on a test but he was proactive, talking to his career counselor and the college staff to find a solution. He is now achieving straight A's with an average GPA of 3.80 and will graduate May of 2016. Bob was also awared the Lead Technician position on a computer repair clinic project and this includes the scheduling of student work hours, quality control, and all management duties which will certainly look great on his resume. In addition, Bob is a member of the Lake Superior College Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (CCDC) team with whom he placed first in Minnesota and went on to Chicago where they placed 5th nationally.
