Federal law requires almost everyone to have health insurance coverage or be subject to a tax penalty. Many different types of health insurance fulfill this requirement, including:

  • Coverage through an employer (including COBRA)
  • Individual or family insurance from MNsure or a commercial health plan
  • Coverage from a public insurance program, including Medicare, Medicaid, MinnesotaCare, The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), veterans’ healthcare programs, and TRICARE.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) created health insurance marketplaces where you can enroll in a public insurance program or qualify for tax credits and cost-sharing reductions that can help you purchase a private individual or family insurance plan. MNsure is Minnesota’s health insurance marketplace.

Enrollment Assistance from Glencoe Regional Health

If you are currently uninsured, Glencoe Regional Health has certified application counselors who can help you apply for public insurance programs or tax credits for private coverage through MNsure when you visit our emergency room, urgent care, or one of our clinics. Simply ask to meet with a certified application counselor when you check in for care.

Glencoe Regional Health also participates in Minnesota’s hospital presumptive eligibility (HPE) program. This allows us to make a preliminary determination of your eligibility for Medicaid coverage and enroll you for immediate temporary coverage that includes a full range of health care benefits such as clinic visits, inpatient hospital care and prescriptions. The temporary coverage provides time for you to collect information and complete the online enrollment process for long-term Medicaid coverage.

Public Insurance Programs

You can find out if your income qualifies you for coverage through a public program such as Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare by contacting MNsure, your county social service office or a certified application counselor at GRH. You can enroll in a public health care program such as Medicaid or MinnesotaCare (if your income qualifies) at any time during the year. Visit MNsure or your county health care office for assistance. McLeod County Health and Human Services is located at 520 Chandler Ave. N., Glencoe, MN 55336, or call 320-864-3144.

Private Insurance Coverage

If you do not have access to employer-based coverage or your income is too high for the Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare programs, you may qualify for federal government assistance to help you pay premiums and/or out-of-pocket costs for a private individual or family insurance plan. If you qualify, you must buy your coverage through MNsure in order to receive financial assistance.

Whether you qualify for assistance or not, you must enroll in individual or family coverage during the annual open enrollment period. Minnesota’s open enrollment period for 2019 coverage is Nov. 1, 2018 through Jan. 13, 2019. If you do not enroll by Jan. 13, 2019, you must wait until the next open enrollment period begins in November 2019 and you may owe a penalty on your tax return in 2020.

However, you may be able to enroll outside the annual open enrollment period if you have had a qualifying life event. Examples include moving to a new state, certain changes in your income, and changes in your family size (for example, if you marry, divorce, have a baby or adopt a child). Contact MNsure to discuss your situation and find out if you qualify to enroll outside the annual open enrollment period.

Enrollment Assistance from MNsure

Even if your income does not qualify for financial assistance, you can still buy individual or family coverage directly from an insurance company or by working with a licensed insurance agent or broker. MNsure has a network of “assisters” who are trained to help you get health care coverage. They include licensed insurance agents and brokers, “navigators” and certified application counselors (available at GRH). All are trained and certified by MNsure. To find an assister in your area, view MNsure’s assister directory.