For health insurance, Minneapolis and Hennepin County residents use MNsure, Minnesota’s own exchange, not HealthCare.gov. Open Enrollment for 2027 runs Nov 1, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027; choose by Dec 15 for Jan 1 coverage. Many residents under 200% of the poverty level qualify for MinnesotaCare or Medical Assistance instead.
Updated for the 2027 plan year (October 2026). Reviewed by a licensed agent.
- How Minneapolis residents enroll
- Which program fits your income
- Minneapolis hospitals and networks
- UCare members: choose a new plan
- University of Minnesota students and young adults
- Freelancers, creatives and gig workers
- Native Minneapolis and tribal benefits
- Community clinics in Minneapolis
- Free help in Hennepin County
- Frequently asked questions
How Minneapolis residents enroll in 2027
Minneapolis residents who don’t get coverage through a job, Medicare or a public program shop on MNsure. It’s the only place to get a premium tax credit on a private plan in Minnesota, and it also handles Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare applications.
| Choose a plan | Coverage starts |
|---|---|
| Nov 1 – Dec 15, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 |
| Dec 16, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027 | Feb 1, 2027 |
| Year-round | Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare |
Just moved to Minneapolis? A permanent move can open a Special Enrollment Period, usually 60 days, if you had qualifying coverage before the move. For statewide rules, read our Minnesota health insurance guide.
Which program fits your income
When you shop for health insurance, Minneapolis income levels decide which door you walk through, and MNsure checks all three with one application. The figures below use the 2026 poverty guidelines that apply to 2027 coverage.
- Up to about 138% of the poverty level ($22,025 for one person): usually Medical Assistance.
- Above that and up to 200% ($31,920 for one person): usually MinnesotaCare, if you lack affordable job-based coverage.
- From 200% to 400% ($63,840 for one person): a private plan with a premium tax credit. Your share of the benchmark Silver plan runs from 6.78% to 10.22% of income for 2027.
- Above 400%: no credit for 2027, so network and tier choices matter more.
See the affordable health insurance Minnesota hub for the full income tables and our 2027 subsidies guide for the details.
Health insurance Minneapolis networks: check your hospital
Minneapolis is a regional medical hub, and individual plans are often built around one health system. Before you choose health insurance, Minneapolis families should confirm their clinic and hospital are in the exact plan.
- Abbott Northwestern Hospital (Allina Health) calls itself the largest private hospital in the Twin Cities.
- Hennepin Healthcare’s HCMC is the county’s public safety-net hospital in downtown Minneapolis.
- M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center and Children’s Minnesota also serve the city.
Look up each doctor in the 2027 provider directory and call to confirm. A narrower network can be the better value if it includes your clinic. Our guide on how to choose a health plan explains HMO and PPO trade-offs.
UCare members: choose a new plan
UCare plans end after 2026. The Minnesota Department of Commerce says UCare plans, supported through 2026 after Medica acquired the company, “will no longer be available in Plan Year 2027” (Minnesota Commerce).
For 2027, Commerce lists Aspirus Health Plan (new), Blue Plus, HealthPartners, Medica and Quartz in the individual market, though not every insurer sells in Hennepin County. If you’re a UCare member, compare plans and choose by December 15 so there’s no gap. Premiums are rising again: the state’s average final individual increase is 17.4%, cushioned by its reinsurance program (MPR News).
Honesty.AI compares every MNsure plan in your ZIP code and checks whether your clinic is in-network.
University of Minnesota students and young adults
The University of Minnesota requires all international students and their dependents to enroll in the University-sponsored Student Health Benefit Plan unless they qualify for a waiver, according to the Office of Student Health Benefits. Domestic students have more choices.
Young adults can generally stay on a parent’s plan until age 26. After that, or after graduation, compare a MNsure plan or MinnesotaCare; a recent graduate with an entry-level salary may fall under 200% of the poverty level. Losing a student plan or aging off a parent’s plan can open a Special Enrollment Period.
Freelancers, creatives and gig workers
When it comes to self-employed health insurance, Minneapolis has a large creative, nonprofit and contract workforce, and many people buy their own coverage between jobs or projects. For them, the most important number is expected 2027 net income, after business expenses.
That number decides MinnesotaCare versus a private plan, and the size of any tax credit. Report income changes to MNsure during the year. Self-employed people with a net profit may also qualify for the IRS self-employed health insurance deduction. The 2027 out-of-pocket maximum is $12,000 for one person, so weigh deductibles carefully.
Native Minneapolis and tribal benefits
Minneapolis has a large urban American Indian community, and tribal citizens get extra protections when they buy health insurance. Minneapolis residents who are members of federally recognized Tribes can enroll in a private plan through MNsure any time of year, not just during Open Enrollment, and federal rules let them change plans up to once a month.
With income from 100% to 300% of the poverty level, tribal members can choose a zero cost-sharing plan, with no deductibles or copays for covered care, according to HealthCare.gov. Two federally funded Native-serving clinics operate in the city: the Native American Community Clinic and the Indian Health Board of Minneapolis. A Marketplace plan, MinnesotaCare or Medical Assistance can sit alongside that care and pay for hospital stays and specialists. Bring proof of tribal membership when you apply, so MNsure can apply the protections.
The same flexibility applies to family members who are tribal citizens. If only some people in your household are enrolled members, ask how to set up the application so each person gets the right protections for health insurance in Minneapolis.
Community clinics in Minneapolis
Minneapolis has an unusually dense network of federally funded health centers. HRSA’s Find a Health Center lists sites in the city run by Hennepin County, Native American Community Clinic, Neighborhood HealthSource, Southside Community Health Services, Cedar-Riverside People’s Center and the Indian Health Board of Minneapolis, among others.
NorthPoint Health & Wellness, operated with Hennepin County, has served North Minneapolis since 1968 with medical, dental, behavioral health and human services. The Native American Community Clinic recently opened a new 40,000-square-foot clinic. These centers charge on a sliding scale, but they aren’t insurance and won’t pay a hospital bill.
Free help in Hennepin County
MNsure-certified navigators help for free; search MNsure’s assister directory by location and language. Hennepin County also processes Medical Assistance applications, and the Minneapolis Health Department runs city public health programs.
If you’re on Medical Assistance, watch your mail in 2027: some adults ages 21 to 64 without children at home may need to meet new work or community engagement requirements at renewal, according to the Minnesota DHS.
How Honesty helps Minneapolis residents
Honesty.AI is the world’s first patented, licensed AI insurance agent, and it’s on your side. It flags likely MinnesotaCare eligibility, compares every MNsure plan in your Minneapolis ZIP code, checks Allina, Fairview, Hennepin Healthcare and other networks, and shows ACA, alternative and ancillary plans side by side. Honesty® Insurance Services, LLC is licensed in Minnesota; reach Honesty 24/7 by chat, voice or text. Learn how Honesty.AI works.
Your 2027 Minneapolis plan, compared honestly
Check MinnesotaCare, compare every Hennepin County plan and enroll in minutes. Honesty Is Your Best Policy®.
Frequently asked questions
Do Minneapolis residents use HealthCare.gov?
No. Minnesota runs its own exchange, MNsure. Minneapolis residents apply for private plans, Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare through MNsure, and premium tax credits are available only there.
Do University of Minnesota students need the student health plan?
The University requires all international students and their dependents to enroll in the Student Health Benefit Plan unless they qualify for a waiver. Other students may stay on a parent’s plan until 26 or compare MNsure and MinnesotaCare.
What should UCare members in Minneapolis do for 2027?
UCare plans will no longer be available in plan year 2027. Compare the remaining MNsure plans in Hennepin County and choose one by December 15, 2026 so coverage starts January 1, 2027.
Which community clinics serve Minneapolis?
Federally funded centers include NorthPoint Health and Wellness, Native American Community Clinic, Neighborhood HealthSource and Southside Community Health Services. They charge on a sliding scale based on income.
Can a Minneapolis freelancer qualify for MinnesotaCare?
Yes, if expected 2027 net income is above Medical Assistance limits and up to 200% of the poverty level, which is $31,920 for one person, and there is no affordable job-based coverage. MinnesotaCare accepts applications all year.
Keep learning: compare our St. Paul health insurance guide, the statewide Minnesota guide, the affordable health insurance Minnesota hub, and the 2027 Open Enrollment guide.
