MNsure Making Final Push To Get 'Invincibles' Enrolled

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Minnesota's online health care exchange is turning to star-power to get so-called "young invincibles" to sign up for health insurance.

The deadline to enroll with MNsure, as required by the Affordable Care Act is a week from Monday, March 31. MNsure has several events over the next week to encourage people to sign up before the deadline, and some feature appearances from Barkhad Abdi and Faysal Ahmed, the Minnesota stars from the movie "Captain Phillips."

Pat's Tap in Minneapolis, the site of one of those events. Officials said by March 31, the goal is to have 135,000 people signed up for health insurance. Pat's Tap will host a happy hour next Tuesday with games and information to get everything you need to know about MNsure.

Allison O'Toole with MNsure said many of those young people haven't signed up for health insurance because they're generally healthy.

"They don't think they need health insurance but really they're one sports injury away from a big medical bill," O'Toole said. "We want to prevent that from happening, so we're focusing this week on those young invincibles."

MNsure has had its share of glitches and issues as people get enrolled, but Scott Beauchamp, a 23-year-old who works with the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce, said he had an overall positive experience singing up. He said he will save close to $500 through the program.

On Friday from 12 to 1 p.m., MNsure CEO Scott Leitz will take to Twitter and answer any questions people have on the online health care exchange.