The Commerce Committee heard a bill this week that would cut the operating funds for MNsure, the state’s health care market place. The cuts would come from MNsure’s customer service budget, which includes broker lines and staff that help Minnesotans navigate a complicated system of purchasing insurance.
The proposal to cut the customer service budget was heard at the same time MNsure is going through its best customer service year yet. Over 115,000 Minnesotans signed up for private health plans through the system, call waiting times for consumers were under 10 seconds, and the wait time for answers from brokers was as short as it’s been in MNsure’s history. It makes little sense to be cutting a customer service budget that’s proven to be put to good use.
The bill also contained a provision that would prohibit the Governor’s MinnesotaCare buy in proposal.
No action was taken on the bill as it was only heard on an informational basis. (SF 3392)
