ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota House passed a bill early Friday creating an online health insurance marketplace that aims to provide a new way for at least 1.3 million Minnesotans to purchase coverage, a key element of the new federal health care law.
The bill now faces a final test in the Senate before heading to Gov. Mark Dayton, who has promised to sign it. It establishes a new state office, overseen by seven people appointed by the governor, to manage a website where insurance companies can offer their plans for sale.
The House passed the bill on a vote of 72 to 61, with most Democrats supporting it and most Republicans opposed. Several Democrats sided with Republicans, a split stemming from the absence of an earlier House provision that would have barred insurance sold over the exchange from covering abortions.
The exchanges are a centerpiece of implementing President Barack Obama's federal health care changes. States had the option of creating their own exchanges or letting the federal government do it.
Complete your profile to continue reading and get FREE access to BenefitsPRO, part of your ALM digital membership.
Your access to unlimited BenefitsPRO content isn’t changing.
Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:
- Critical BenefitsPRO information including cutting edge post-reform success strategies, access to educational webcasts and videos, resources from industry leaders, and informative Newsletters.
- Exclusive discounts on ALM, BenefitsPRO magazine and BenefitsPRO.com events
- Access to other award-winning ALM websites including ThinkAdvisor.com and Law.com
Already have an account? Sign In
© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
