Health Insurance in St. Paul, MN: 2027 Coverage for East Metro Families, Workers & Newcomers

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

First: are you a UCare member?

If your 2026 plan is from UCare, start here. 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).

That affects many East Metro households, because UCare is a Minnesota-based plan with a long history here. Watch for your notice, then compare the 2027 options on MNsure. Commerce lists Aspirus Health Plan (new), Blue Plus, HealthPartners, Medica and Quartz for the individual market; not every carrier sells in Ramsey County. Choose by December 15 so your coverage continues January 1 without a gap.

Health insurance St. Paul networks: the East Metro hospitals

St. Paul’s large hospitals belong to different systems, and individual plans don’t always include all of them. Before you choose health insurance, St. Paul families should confirm their clinic, hospital and specialists are in-network for 2027.

• Regions Hospital (HealthPartners) has cared for patients since 1872 and describes itself as St. Paul’s only Level 1 trauma center.
• United Hospital (Allina Health) says it is the largest hospital in the Twin Cities east metro.
• M Health Fairview and Gillette Children’s also serve St. Paul patients.

A plan built around HealthPartners may look different from one built around Allina or Fairview. Search each doctor by name in the plan’s 2027 directory and call the office. Our guide on how to choose a health plan explains network types.

Deadlines for St. Paul residents

MNsure, not HealthCare.gov, sets Minnesota’s dates. For 2027 coverage, Open Enrollment runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027, as MNsure confirms on its renewal page.

Our Open Enrollment 2027 guide explains which life events qualify.

MinnesotaCare and Medical Assistance in Ramsey County

A large share of St. Paul households qualify for a public program, and the most affordable option for many is MinnesotaCare. It’s 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.

These limits use the 2026 poverty guidelines for 2027 coverage. Children and pregnant people qualify for Medical Assistance at higher incomes. Starting January 1, 2027, some Medical Assistance adults ages 21 to 64 without children under 19 at home may need to meet work or community engagement requirements at renewal, and some will renew every six months, according to the Minnesota DHS.

Immigrant families: what changed

St. Paul is home to many immigrant and refugee families, and two rule changes matter for them. Read notices carefully and get help before you assume you’ve lost eligibility.

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

Mixed-status households can still apply for eligible members. MNsure navigators offer help in many languages, and community health centers serve patients regardless of insurance or immigration status.

Tax credits for middle-income households

Above 200% of the poverty level, St. Paul households buy private plans on MNsure with a federal premium tax credit up to 400%. For 2027, IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-26 sets your share of the benchmark Silver plan at 6.78% to 8.66% of income from 200% to 250% of the poverty level, rising to 10.22% from 300% to 400%.

Above 400% ($63,840 for one person, $132,000 for a family of four), there’s no credit for 2027. State workers and others with job-based coverage usually stay with their employer plan; a job offer counts as affordable for 2027 unless your share of self-only coverage tops 10.22% of household income. Premiums are up again, with the state’s average final individual increase at 17.4% after reinsurance (MPR News). See the affordable health insurance Minnesota hub.

Students, recent grads and young adults

St. Paul has several colleges and universities, so many residents are students or recent graduates. Young adults can generally stay on a parent’s plan until 26. A school plan, if offered, is another option; check its rules and waiver deadlines with your school.

After graduation, an entry-level salary may fall under 200% of the poverty level ($31,920 for one person), which can mean MinnesotaCare rather than a full-price private plan. Losing student coverage or aging off a parent’s plan opens a Special Enrollment Period, so compare options for health insurance in St. Paul before the old coverage ends. For health insurance, St. Paul newcomers should know that a permanent move can also open a window, as long as you had qualifying coverage before the move and new plans are available at your new address.

Sliding-fee clinics in St. Paul

Federally funded health centers in St. Paul include West Side Community Health Services, Open Cities Health Center and United Family Practice Health Center, plus a site of the Indian Health Board of Minneapolis, according to HRSA’s Find a Health Center.

These clinics charge on a sliding scale by income and can often help you apply for MinnesotaCare or Medical Assistance. A clinic is not insurance, though. It won’t pay for a stay at Regions or United, so pair it with coverage.

Ramsey County public health and free help

Ramsey County‘s public health department, Saint Paul–Ramsey County Public Health, runs an immunization clinic, WIC, a sexual and reproductive health clinic (Clinic 555), tuberculosis services and family home visiting. The county also processes Medical Assistance applications.

For free help with any MNsure application, search MNsure’s assister directory for a certified navigator near you. Read our Minnesota health insurance guide for statewide rules.

How Honesty helps St. Paul residents

Honesty.AI is the world’s first patented, licensed AI insurance agent, and it works for you, not the carriers. It compares every MNsure plan in your St. Paul ZIP code, checks HealthPartners, Allina and Fairview networks, flags likely MinnesotaCare eligibility, and lays out ACA, alternative and ancillary plans side by side. Honesty® Insurance Services, LLC is licensed in Minnesota; there’s no office to visit for health insurance. St. Paul residents reach Honesty 24/7 by chat, voice or text. Learn how Honesty.AI works.

Frequently asked questions

Keep learning: compare our Minneapolis health insurance guide, the statewide Minnesota guide, the affordable health insurance Minnesota hub, and how 2027 subsidies work.