MNsure Makes Push For Sign-Ups In Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- It's getting down to the wire for Minnesotans who are looking to sign up with the state's online healthcare marketplace.

The next enrollment deadline for MNsure, the online insurance exchange, is March 31. For the next two weeks, MNsure is setting up more than 1,000 events to get folks to signed up. One such event is taking place Wednesday in Minneapolis.

Despite the deadline crunch, it's been difficult to get people motivated to sign up for MNsure.

It started with several bumps in the road and problems with the website early on, and that frustrated many people because it left them unable to enroll. Now some positive changes have happened, but it is still tough to get people signed up.

MNsure CEO Scott Leitz spent Wednesday standing alongside people who have benefitted from MNsure, making the push for people to give the website a chance. Glitches early on left many having trouble on the company's web site and and had some spending hours on the phone trying to get help.

Many problems have been fixed, and one mother told WCCO-TV she struggled first to sign up, but MNsure saved her uninsured family from thousands of dollars in debt when they had to get a surgery for their young son.

"Whether it's finding a navigator or constant emails and phone calls, just keep with it because it's really put our family at ease," said customer Kate Needleman.

Leitz said stories like these will inspire people to enroll so MNsure can reach enrollment goal of 135,000 Minnesotans by March 31. Officials said they've had 10,000 more people sign up in less than two weeks.

"We set a target of 135,000 people back in October during the open enrollment period. We're sitting at a little over 125,000 people right now so we're cautiously optimistic that we're going to meet that target," Leitz said.

More events and some new campaigns will be unveiled as Leitz said it's really targeting young adults that he calls "invincible."

So why is it so important they meet their deadlines and goals for enrollment? It's all about money. The State Legislature wants MNsure to fund itself through sign-ups so they don't have to ask taxpayers for any money.