Minn. to extend health coverage to 16,000 children - KTTC Rochester, Austin, Mason City News, Weather and Sports

Minn. to extend health coverage to 16,000 children

Updated:

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- A top state official says Minnesota has begun implementing a 2009 law with a goal of extending MinnesotaCare health care coverage to 16,000 uninsured children.

Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson announced Thursday that parents whose incomes are below a certain level will no longer have to pay premiums for their children on MinnesotaCare.

The state is also eliminating a four-month waiting period for poor children and allowing parents to enroll children in the program even if they don't sign up for employer-sponsored coverage. The changes became effective July 1.

Jesson made the announcement at a Capitol news conference with Democratic House Minority Leader Paul Thissen, who sponsored the original legislation.

They are highlighting the changes after Minnesota dropped in a national ranking of children's health care coverage.

Powered by WorldNow
All content © Copyright 2001 - 2013 WorldNow and KTTC, a Quincy station.
All Rights Reserved. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Persons with disabilities who need assistance with issues relating to the content of this station's public inspection file should contact Administrative Assistant Lynn Jacobs at (507) 280-5104. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, at 888-835-5322 (TTY) or at fccinfo@fcc.gov.