Minnesota dropped two spots – from 4th to 2nd – in the 2008 ranking of the healthiest states by the United Health Foundation, but the state is still no slouch, with rankings in the top 10 states in 11 of 22 measurements in the study.
The good news:
The bad news:
The state's best and worst category rankings:
See the United Health Foundation's latest findings on Minnesota.
Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association
Toll-free 1-866-894-8053
Risk pools are state-sponsored programs to help people with a history of medical problems in their family to purchase coverage. These pools are for people who can afford to buy health insurance, but are not able to get underwritten in the private market because of a pre-existing health condition. These programs can vary significantly from state-to-state in price, benefits and number of people served. Often insurance companies doing business in the state are required to contribute to the poolto keep it in the black. In the best cases they allow people to be able to switch jobs or become self-employed without the fear of losing their health insurance coverage. Find more on risk pools here.
An option for the medically uninsurable is a guaranteed-issue mini-med health insurance plan. There is no underwriting and no health questions are asked.
These plans provide basic coverage but are not designed to help with catastrophic expenses. They can often count as creditable coverage, eliminating the waiting period for pre-existing conditions if you later move to an employer-based plan. Read more here.
Cover The Uninsured is a national effort to highlight the fact that too many Americans are living without health insurance and to demand solutions from our nation's leaders. Read more information on its efforts. It is a project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
US News does an annual ranking of what it considers the best health insurance plans in each state.
Visit its reports on various health insurance or medical insurance plans being offered in Minnesota.
State of Minnesota Department of Health – The State of Minnesota's department of health provides information on health insurance.
Office of Attorney General Lori Swanson – Heatlh care information and resources for health insurance consumers from the state's attorney general.
MinnesotaCare – Basic health care coverage for low-income Minnesotans through publicly subsidized health care assistance program.
Medicaid – Facts on Minnesota and Medicaid.
The Sage Screening Program (formerly the Minnesota Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program) – free mammogram screening and follow-up services to uninsured and underinsured women.
Who's Who in Health Care – A resource Guide for Minnesotans provides an introduction to health care insurance, and more specifically managed care. It provides an overview of what managed care is and what techniques are used to "manage" health care.
TakeAction Minnesota – TakeAction Minnesota is working to move a bold, progressive agenda to achieve quality, affordable health care for everyone in Minnesota. This year, the group is building a broad coalition behind real health care reform, working to get health care moving the right direction at the Minnesota Legislature, and organizing thousands of Minnesotans across the state to join the fight to make the health care system work better for Minnesotans.
Health Insurance Resource Center – Democrats, time to put up or shut up. We don’t expect you to pull all 60 members of your caucus into voting for a public option, but we DO EXPECT you to be able to brush aside any filibuster designed to keep it from a vote.
Health Insurance Resource Center – Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.), newly appointed as ranking minority member of the House Education and Labor Committee, is giving Rep. Michelle Bachmann a run-for-her-money as the looniest representative from the land of 10,000 lakes.
Contact your federal officials. President Obama needs your help to push Congress to make health insurance available, affordable and universal! Read more!
Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty
130 State Capitol
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155
PHONE: (651) 296-3391 or toll-free 1-800-657-3717
FAX:(651) 296-2089
Contact by e-mail
Contact your Minnesota State Senator and State Representative
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Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.), newly appointed as ranking minority member of the House Education and Labor Committee, is giving Rep. Michelle Bachmann a run-for-her-money as the looniest representative from the land of 10,000 lakes. Read more... (More blog posts)
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