Getting care
The Minnesota Council of Health Plans has worked for more than 30 years to improve care for everyone. We work with local health insurance companies that serve communities, not Wall Street shareholders, to make sure Minnesotans get the care they need, today and in the future.
Minnesota Health Plans Waiving Cost-Sharing for COVID-19 Testing and Treatment
The Minnesota Council of Health Plans announced that Minnesota’s nonprofit health plans are voluntarily waiving cost-sharing for COVID-19 testing and in-patient treatment for enrollees as part of a framework to support and protect the health of Minnesotans amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
“The health and safety of Minnesotans are the highest priorities of the nonprofit plans we represent,” said Lucas Nesse, president and CEO of the Council. “Uniform access to appropriate and affordable treatment is critical to controlling the scope of the pandemic, particularly for those with underlying medical conditions.”
Minnesota’s nonprofit health plans that have committed to this framework:
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield/Blue Plus of Minnesota
- HealthPartners
- Hennepin Health
- Medica
- PreferredOne
- UCare
For more information and to review the latest guidance from our state and federal officials, please visit:
Minnesota Department of Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The Facts About Prescription Drugs
Even if you don’t need prescription drugs you’re paying for them in your premiums each month. And those drugs are getting more and more expensive. Why and what can we do about it? You’ll find a lot more information here.
Diabetes medication unaffordable for many today
The price of insulin — a lifesaving drug — has increased more 240 percent over the past decade. That means prices have jumped from $90 to often more than $300 a vial. Listen to what U of M pharmacy school professor Angie Carlson, Ph.D., has to say about insulin. Carlson sat down with Council staff to talk about stories like this one about a man from Minneapolis who died because he needed insulin, and share her 40 years of experience in the industry. Carlson’s question is how long should people have to pay for improvements that have been available for 30 years. Minnesota’s Attorney General is suing drug companies for pricing insulin out of reach for many patients.
What's happened with insulin?
News
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Statement on the Death of George Floyd
"Minnesota's nonprofit health plans are deeply saddened by the death of George Floyd. The issues of racism and violence in our communities cannot be ignored, and we stand with Minnesotans in taking steps to ensure that the human rights of all people are protected. We also recognize that the health care needs of members may have shifted amid recent events, and health plans are here to support their members. Please contact your plan provider if you have questions or need guidance in accessing care or prescriptions."
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Minnesota Health Plans Announce Additional Support for People Affected by COVID-19
The Minnesota Council of Health Plans announced today that Minnesota’s nonprofit health plans are enhancing support for enrollees impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic by extending cost-sharing waivers for in-patient treatment.
News Coverage
2020
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Star Tribune
Minnesota health plans say $220 million in income will help with COVID-19 costs
Minnesota’s nonprofit health insurers posted about $220 million in operating income last year, a figure that the carriers’ trade group said is down from 2018 but still shows financial stability with the likely onset of COVID-19 medical bills.
Our Blog
National Safety Month: How to Stay ‘COVID-Safe’ This Summer & Beyond
Now that we are able to enjoy more flexibility, we also must remember that we’re living in a new era when it comes to work and personal safety. As we return to the office, attend small family gatherings and maybe visit some lakes, pools, restaurants and malls, we need to be even more sensitive to the risks involved.
Why Drug Pricing Transparency Is a Huge Victory for Minnesota
The state legislature recently passed the ground-breaking Prescription Drug Pricing Transparency Act, mandating that drug companies must now notify Minnesota consumers when they institute significant price hikes for certain prescription medications.
COVID-19 Prevention is Vital as Summer Season Approaches
Don’t drink and drive, wear your seat belt and put on your sunscreen are being joined by wash your hands, wear your mask and stay 6 feet away from others as universal messages this summer from healthcare professionals.
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Insurance helps you pay medical bills, everything from the entire bill for preventive care that helps keep you well to helping pay for prescriptions and care when you need it. Insurance companies also do a lot of work behind the scenes to help you be well and ensure you get good care.
Understand Insurance
We all need care—not only medical care when we’re sick or injured—but also preventive care to keep us well. Health insurance is how we join together to pay for care because it’s too expensive to pay for on our own.
From the Council’s Members
What Our Members Are Talking About
Comment on Facebook 338081266150_10160367788406151
Eric Komro, Deb Johnson Raschke - Thank you both for your comments. We know this is hard. As much as possible, we’re working with our clinicians to move their practices to nearby sites, so they can continue to care for patients they’ve built relationships with. In-person and video visits will both continue to be options. And before a therapist or doctor moves to a new location, we’ll reach out to patients to let them know so they can prepare for the transition. Also, we remain committed to caring for patients with substance abuse issues. We’ll continue to have outpatient treatment options in the east and west metro, western Minnesota and western Wisconsin, as well as continuing to operate several Intensive Residential Treatment Services (IRTS) sites that treat and offer services for patients who struggle with both mental health and substance use issues. In addition, we have resources at Regions Hospital to treat inpatients with substance use care needs. Again, thank you for your comments. We understand this is tough, but please know we will do everything we can to support our patients during this transition.
I don’t think you are pausing social media usage due to hate speech and racism. You are closing clinics and eliminating services for hundreds of patients. Treating doctors and nurses the way that they have been treated during this pandemic is unacceptable. One thing that COVID has taught me is that only during a national pandemic does the Hippocratic oath not mean a thing and doctors can deny care. Video visits are only valid when it is a simple discussion. Doctors need to see patients for the majority of illness/injuries. So stop hiding behind racism and actually look to care for your patients.
Which clinics are closing?
LMAO...stop hate? Stop distracting people and post your real intentions. You have bigger problems apparently. As you close down vital centers for drug and alcoholic abuse at regions hospital? Close behavioral centers? Close clinics in low income areas? What a joke... you can post all the nice warm little fuzzy posts all you want, but actions matter more than words... and your actions show the truth. PATHETIC!! Rotten for profit provider!!!
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How about you guys offering better IVF coverage. The coverage I pay for now sucks!
Comment on Facebook Today is ...
Medica just sent me a list of all the the medical equipment use that they will no longer cover. Literally everything you need to survive COVID hospitalization. If I get sick, I either die or go broke. We’ve been covered for 20 years by this company and this is how they treat us. But remember - socialized medicine is bad...
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.
Comment on Facebook #CovidRISKS As ...
Where is protesting? What is the risk factor?
What a load of BS.
