A health care reform championed by Sen. Eric Pratt (R-Prior Lake) has reduced individual market health insurance rates for the second consecutive year, according to the Minnesota Department of Commerce. 

All five of the carriers on the individual market are lowering premiums for 2019, with average rates dropping between 7.4 percent and 27.7 percent. This is in contrast to double digit rate increases every year from 2014-2017, including up to 67 percent for 2017. Commerce Commissioner Jessica Looman attributed 20 percent of the drop to Republicans’ signature legislation of 2017, the Minnesota Premium Security Plan.

The final rates show significant savings for local residents. In Scott County, a family of four purchasing a silver plan could save $1,980 and a 61-year-old purchasing a gold plan could save $4,296 next year as a result of Republican reforms, compared to two years ago. 

Forty-five distinct plans will be offered in Scott County, with all five insurers participating: Blue Plus, Group Health, Medica, PreferredOne, and UCare.

“When I heard from Scott County families struggling to pay for health insurance under MNsure, it became my priority to make sure health care was accessible and affordable. The Minnesota Premium Security Plan was a bold proposal, one of the first of its kind in the country, and now other states are looking to us to replicate its success,” said Sen. Pratt. “However, we have more work ahead of us. I will continue to support innovative reforms that lower the cost of health care, increase access to doctors, and keep your family healthy.”

“The rate decreases in the individual market indicate that this market continues to stabilize,” Commissioner Looman added in a statement.

Republicans also pushed for and successfully passed other key reforms to increase the number of health care options for Minnesotans by expanding agriculture co-op plans and allowing more insurers into the market, a move that is already paying dividends for seniors on Medicare and employees.