Minnesota Health Insurance

How healthy is living in Minnesota?

Minnesota fell slightly in the 2009 ranking of the healthiest states by the United Health Foundation, but the state is still among in the top 10 states, coming in at #6 overall.

The good news:

• Minnesota was again ranked highest when it came to the rate of premature death – measuring the loss of years of productive life before age 75.
• The state had the top rating in the country for in terms of occupational fatalities. The state had 3.1 fatalities per 100,000 workers.
• Other good news: Since 1990, the infant mortality rate in the state has declined. Minnesota is now ranked #4 nationally, with 5.1 deaths per 1,000 live births.

The bad news:

• Minnesota was again cited as having one of the 10 lowest public health funding levels ($41 per person).

The state's best and worst category rankings:

• Premature death – #1
• Occupational fatalities – #1
• Lack of health insurance – #3
• Poor physical health days – #3
• Poor mental health days – #3
• Infant mortality – #4
• High school graduation – #4
• Primary care physicians – #9
• Preventable hospitalizations – #9
• Cancer deaths – #9
• Prevalence of binge drinking – #34
• Public health funding – #46

See the United Health Foundation's latest findings on Minnesota.

Does Minnesota have a risk pool for the uninsurable?

Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association
Toll-free 1-866-894-8053

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Starting in 2010, Minnesota will offer health coverage to residents through the federally established temporary high-risk pool program. To find out more about Minnesota's participation, click here.

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 pool to 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. Read more about risk pools here.

Cover The Uninsured's guide on finding health insurance in Minnesota

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.

• Cover The Uninsured's facts on the uninsured in Minnesota and all other states.
• Its guide on how to find health insurance in Minnesota.
• Materiales En Español – Guías para encontrar cobertura de seguro de salud.

Georgetown University's Guide to Health Insurance in Minnesota

Georgetown University's Health Policy Institute has researched and written state-by-state guides for finding and keeping health insurance. It updates these guides as federal and state policies change. A number of non-profit organizations help fund its research. Learn more about the Health Policy Institute.

Review Georgetown's guide for Minnesota.

USNews health insurance rankings for Minnesota

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.

Official State Goverment Sites with Minnesota Health Insurance Information

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.

Health Care Advocacy Groups in Minnesota

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.