Health Insurance Minnesota: 2027 MNsure Plans, MinnesotaCare & Help

Updated for the 2027 plan year (October 2026). Reviewed by a licensed agent.

Health insurance Minnesota at a glance for 2027

Minnesota is one of the states that runs its own marketplace, and it layers a state Basic Health Program and a reinsurance program on top of federal rules. Here are the names, dates and agencies you need for the 2027 plan year.

Minnesota’s uninsured rate is among the lowest in the country, but it rose from 4.2% in 2023 to 5.1% in 2024, according to the Census Bureau’s Health Insurance Coverage by State brief. If cost is the barrier, our affordable health insurance Minnesota guide shows where you fit by income.

How MNsure works

MNsure is Minnesota’s official health insurance marketplace. It is the only place Minnesotans can get a federal premium tax credit on a private plan, and it is also the front door for Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare.

One application at MNsure checks your household for all three. If your income fits Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare, you’re routed there; if it’s higher, you see private plans with any tax credit applied. Because Minnesota runs its own exchange, you don’t use HealthCare.gov. You can apply on your own, with a free MNsure-certified navigator, or with a licensed agent. Our health insurance Marketplace guide explains how exchanges work in general.

MNsure’s contact center is 651-539-2099 or 855-366-7873.

2027 Open Enrollment dates in Minnesota

MNsure’s Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Earlier in 2026, some MNsure pages listed a December 31 end date because of a federal rule; after a court vacated that rule, MNsure confirmed the January 15 deadline on its renewal page.

Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare take applications all year, and American Indians can enroll in private plans through MNsure year-round. Everyone else needs a qualifying life event for a Special Enrollment Period after January 15. See our Open Enrollment 2027 guide.

Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare or a private plan?

Minnesota has three tiers of coverage based on income, and most people land in exactly one. Your household size and expected 2027 income decide which.

• Medical Assistance is Minnesota’s Medicaid program, run by the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Children and pregnant people qualify at higher incomes than other adults.
• MinnesotaCare is Minnesota’s Basic Health Program for people above Medical Assistance limits and up to 200% of the poverty level who don’t have affordable job-based coverage. It has no asset test, and any monthly premium is based on income.
• Private MNsure plans cover everyone else, with a premium tax credit up to 400% of the poverty level.

Limits use the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines that apply to 2027 coverage. Exact program cutoffs can differ slightly by household type, so let MNsure’s application make the call.

2027 changes: work requirements and immigrant rules

Two rule changes affect Minnesota coverage in 2027. Both come from federal or state law, and both mean you should read every notice from your county or MNsure.

Medical Assistance work requirements

Starting January 1, 2027, some adults with Medical Assistance may need to meet new work reporting and community engagement requirements, according to the Minnesota DHS. The rule generally applies to adults ages 21 to 64 without children under 19 at home who aren’t pregnant, Medicare-eligible or enrolled based on disability. DHS says requirements apply at your 2027 renewal, and some adults will move to renewals every six months.

Immigrant eligibility

Minnesota law ended MinnesotaCare eligibility for undocumented adults ages 18 and older on January 1, 2026; undocumented children remain eligible (Minnesota House). Separately, new federal limits on premium tax credits for some lawfully present immigrants start January 1, 2027. See the immigrant section of our 2027 subsidies guide.

2027 insurers, rates and tax credits: UCare is gone, Aspirus is new

For 2027, the Minnesota Department of Commerce lists five individual-market insurers: Aspirus Health Plan (new to the exchange), Blue Plus, HealthPartners, Medica and Quartz. HealthPartners files through two companies.

Carriers don’t sell in every county, and networks are often built around one health system. Check your doctors, hospital and prescriptions in each plan. Our guide on how to choose a health plan walks through it.

Rates and Minnesota’s reinsurance program

Minnesota premiums are rising again for 2027, but a state reinsurance program is holding the increase down. The Department of Commerce put the average final individual-market rate change at 17.4%, and said the average would have been 57.9% without reinsurance, as reported by MPR News.

That program, the Minnesota Premium Security Plan, pays part of the costliest claims so insurers can price plans lower for everyone. Your own change depends on your plan, age, region and subsidy. Nationally, KFF reported insurers proposed a median 15% increase for 2027. Don’t auto-renew without comparing.

Premium tax credits above 200% of the poverty level

Above MinnesotaCare’s income limit, the federal premium tax credit takes over, and it is only available through MNsure. For 2027, a household pays a set share of income for the benchmark Silver plan: 6.78% to 8.66% from 200% to 250% of the poverty level, rising to 10.22% from 300% to 400% (IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-26).

The enhanced credits expired on December 31, 2025, so there is no credit above 400% for 2027. The out-of-pocket maximum is $12,000 for one person and $24,000 for a family. Read the IRS premium tax credit basics for reconciliation rules.

Special situations: tribal citizens and the self-employed

Two groups of Minnesotans have extra rules worth knowing before they enroll: members of federally recognized Tribes, and people who work for themselves.

American Indian enrollees in Minnesota

Minnesota is home to eleven federally recognized tribal nations, and tribal citizens get extra protections when buying health insurance. On health insurance, Minnesota goes further than many states: MNsure lets American Indians enroll in private plans year-round, and federal rules allow plan changes up to once a month (HealthCare.gov).

Members of federally recognized Tribes with income from 100% to 300% of the poverty level can choose a zero cost-sharing plan, with no deductibles or copays for covered care. You keep access to Indian Health Service, tribal and urban Indian clinics. Bring documentation of tribal membership when you apply.

Self-employed, farm and gig workers

Many Minnesotans buy their own health insurance because they farm, run a small business or work gig and contract jobs. For them, the key is an honest estimate of 2027 net income, after business expenses.

For self-employed health insurance, Minnesota rules make that estimate decisive: it determines whether you land in MinnesotaCare, a private plan with a credit, or full price. If income swings during the year, report changes to MNsure so you don’t owe a large amount at tax time. Self-employed people with a net profit may qualify for the IRS self-employed health insurance deduction. If you’re offered coverage through a spouse’s job, it counts as affordable for 2027 unless the employee’s share for self-only coverage tops 10.22% of household income; family coverage is judged on its own cost.

Minneapolis, St. Paul and Greater Minnesota

When people search for health insurance, Minnesota location matters because plans and networks follow regional health systems. Twin Cities residents see the most choice; rural counties may see fewer carriers.

• Minneapolis: Hennepin County, a large university community and several safety-net clinics. Read our Minneapolis health insurance guide.
• St. Paul: Ramsey County, the state capital and the east metro’s largest hospitals. Read our St. Paul health insurance guide.
• Greater Minnesota: regional carriers such as Aspirus and Quartz are tied to regional health systems; confirm the hospital nearest you is in-network.

Free help, consumer protection and Honesty

MNsure certifies navigators and brokers who can help you apply. Use MNsure’s find an assister directory to search by location and language. Counties also help with Medical Assistance applications.

For complaints about an insurer or a denied claim, contact the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Honesty® Insurance Services, LLC (NPN 21094885) is licensed in Minnesota and helps 24/7 by chat, voice or text.

How Honesty helps Minnesotans

Honesty.AI is the world’s first patented, licensed AI insurance agent, and it’s on your side. It helps you see whether you’re likely headed for Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare or a private plan, compares MNsure options in your county, and lays out ACA, alternative and ancillary plans based on your family’s needs. Learn how Honesty.AI works.

Frequently asked questions

Keep learning: see the affordable health insurance Minnesota hub, our local guides for Minneapolis and St. Paul, and how 2027 subsidies work.