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Administration: MNsure Has Lowest Average Premiums Nationwide

MNsure
(credit: CBS)

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Just six days before its launch, the state says all systems are a go for Minnesota's new health insurance program: MNsure.

The online marketplace -- which you might know as the new health care law,  the Affordable Health Care Act or Obamacare -- lets you comparison shop and buy coverage for your family.

And there's good news for Minnesotans preparing to buy insurance under the new law: Minnesota has the lowest average premiums nationwide.

That's according to new numbers from the Obama administration on premiums and health plans made public Wednesday.

Minnesota's offering average monthly premiums of $144 for the least expensive plan, and $192 for the average most expensive plan.

Republican critics say MNsure is not ready for prime time, but Gov. Mark Dayton is predicting success. However,

"I think there are going to be…glitches and problems as there would be with anything of this size," the governor said. "You know it's one thing to start a small business in obscurity and then if it's successful expand it over time, and you learn from your mistakes in ways that are not so visible. This is starting a huge enterprise from day one, under the glare of the public spotlight, with all these people wanting it to fail and casting it in the worst possible light."

MNsure is up and running, so you can go online and check out the different insurance plans.

You can start buying insurance coverage Oct. 1 in advance of the new health care law, which goes into effect Jan. 1.

For more in the Affordable Health Care Act, click here.

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