Minnesota Health Plans Will Waive Coronavirus Expenses

TWIN CITIES, MN — Gov. Tim Walz Thursday announced that Minnesota’s health plans have agreed to waive cost-sharing for treatment of the new coronavirus. This move comes in response to the governor’s Commissioners of Health and Commerce sending a letter on March 13 urging the health plans to remove barriers to coverage during the COVID-19 crisis.

Minnesotans with commercial insurance — including individuals, small businesses, and some large businesses — are now eligible for the following benefits:

• Minnesotans will have no cost-sharing charges for COVID testing.
• Minnesotans who are hospitalized will have no cost-sharing charges for in-network hospitalization.
• Minnesotans will have expanded access to telemedicine services. This will help people to stay home and access care if they need it.

"This move will help ensure no Minnesotan has to sacrifice paying rent or buying groceries to cover a hospital bill from COVID-19," stated Walz. "I’m grateful Minnesota’s health plans are putting the health and safety of our fellow Minnesotans first during this pandemic."

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Minnesota’s non-profit health plans that have committed to this framework include:

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
• HealthPartners
• Hennepin Health
• Medica
• PreferredOne
• UCare

Many Minnesotans that receive their coverage through their employer have self-insured plans.

The state of Minnesota does not have regulatory authority over these plans, but officials are encouraging employers to work with their plan administrators to implement similar measures.

"Access to health care is very important at any time, but during the COVID-19 pandemic it is absolutely essential for people to have access to affordable, high-quality care to stay healthy or recover from illness," said Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm.

Also read:

• MDH Pressured To Release Locations Of Coronavirus Cases
• Coronavirus Update: 373 People Out Of Isolation In Minnesota
• Coronavirus: How To Avoid Robocall Scams In Minnesota