With health insurance rebates on Capitol agenda, individual market customers hope for political compromise
In
These are just a few of the Minnesotans thrust into the State Capitol limelight during the first weeks of the new legislative session: the approximately 123,000 people who buy insurance on the state's individual market, don't qualify for government subsidies, and have seen insurance bills rise by 50 percent or more.
Their stories have become fodder for political speeches and news conferences. On Tuesday, Gov.
"With 14 days left until the end of the open enrollment period, people need to know if they can afford insurance," Dayton said. Appearing with him were several insurance customers who'd be eligible for rebates, including
Rep.
DFLers and
"I think there's some political jockeying going on, and I don't appreciate being used as a pawn," said
Last week, the
Whether the Legislature's Republican majorities send the DFL governor a bill he's willing to sign is not yet certain. Dayton and DFL allies have argued the
In floor debates, legislators from both parties shared stories of those affected by premium hikes -- usually to prove a partisan point. Outside the
"Which I really hadn't planned to do until I was older," Bergeson said.
Dayton's proposal would reduce her monthly bill by about
Hogg, 57, feels squeezed -- she makes too much as an interpreter to get a subsidy, but health insurance consumes about 20 percent of her income. She'd work more to try to even out her budget, but caring for her elderly mother is a major time commitment.
Instead, Hogg is spending money she'd planned to put in her health savings account, and can no longer afford to buy disability insurance. She, too, wants the quick relief intended by Dayton's plan, and said she's frustrated with the alternative championed by House Speaker
Others weren't so sure.
Kennedy said premium relief would be a big help, but probably a temporary solution. She's getting ready to raise prices and would sell her bakery if she finds a taker.
"If this does not get corrected and we are forced to purchase health care or we pay penalties, this kind of small business is going to go away," Kennedy said.
Last year, Sheri and
Going without insurance is not an option for these 50-something dairy farmers from
Sheri appreciates the Affordable Care Act provision that guarantees neither she nor her husband, who had leukemia 10 years ago, can be denied coverage. She, too, said short-term premium help would be welcome but not enough to ease this threat to the family's livelihood.
"It is frustrating and I feel the general public doesn't realize what us as farmers, or all self-employed people, pay for health care," she said.
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