Minnesota Health Insurance Coverage...
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If you are searching for ways to lower your health insurance costs and you live in the State of Minnesota...We, here at HealthInsureCoverage.com, work hard to supply you with the information you need to make an informed decision regarding your health insurance needs and requirements.

• Your Protections as a Small Employer or Self-Employed Person.
     Federal law extends certain protections to employers seeking to buy health insurance for themselves and their workers. Minnesota has enacted reforms to expand some of these protections. Generally, small employers are those that employ 2-50 employees. Please note, however, that the definitions of small employer and employee are somewhat different under federal and state law. Check with the Minnesota Department of Commerce to be sure that you know which protections apply to your group.
• With few exceptions, small employers cannot be turned down for Health Insurance in Minnesota.
     This is called guaranteed issue. If you employ at least 2 but not more than 50 people eligible for health benefits, health insurance companies must sell you any small group health plan they sell to small employers. However they can require that a minimum percentage of your eligible employees sign up for coverage. They can also require you to pay a minimum share of your workers’ premiums. If you are buying a large group health plan for 51 or more eligible employees, your group can be turned down.
• Know your health insurance plan's rules. Then follow them.
     Remember, if you don't follow the rules, your insurer can deny your claim and you'll wind up getting stuck with the bill. For example, is your alergist included in your health plan's network of doctors or do you need pre-authorization for outpatient surgery.
      Always double-check whether the benefits, services, or providers you need are covered under your plan before you receive treatment. Do this by calling your plan's customer-service department. Then follow through by obtaining any necessary authorizations or by scheduling treatment with a doctor within your insurer's network of providers.
• Your insurance cannot be canceled because someone in your group becomes seriously ill.
     This is called guaranteed renewability and it applies to group plans of all sizes. Insurers can impose other conditions, however. They can require you to meet minimum participation and contribution rates in order to renew your coverage. Additionally, they can refuse to renew your coverage for nonpayment of premiums or if you commit fraud, or if they are discontinuing that insurance product. In the latter case, they must give you a chance to buy other plans they sell to groups of your size.
• Within limits, you can be charged higher premiums based on the group’s health risk, and demographic characteristics of your group.
     But you cannot be charged more because of your gender.
• For groups with more than 50 workers, Minnesota only limits premium variation or increases based on gender.
  
• If you have questions about your group health insurance premiums, contact the Minnesota Department of Commerce.
• If you are self-employed with no other workers, you are not eligible to buy a group health plan on your own (though you may be able to join another group health plan through a family member).
     Therefore, the laws that protect employers' access to group health plans do not apply to you. Your access to health insurance is protected by the laws that apply to individuals.
• If you are self-employed and buy your own health insurance, you are eligible to deduct an increasing percentage of the cost of your premium from your federal income tax.
     This deduction is 70% for 2002 and 100% in 2003 and thereafter.
• A word about Associations.
     Some small employers, self-employed people, and other individuals buy health insurance through professional or trade associations. The laws applying to association health coverage can be different than those for other health plans. Check with the Minnesota Department of Commerce about your protections in association health plans.

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