MNcare Helps MN Work – #3 in a Series: Spotlight on Chronic Illness

MinnesotaCare provides coverage for many Minnesotans living with chronic illness. Here are some of their stories:

MinnesotaCare Covers Low-Wage Workers

When Corey, who lives in St. Paul, was 22, he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Over the years, he’s been uninsured many times because his employers haven’t always offered him coverage or affordable coverage. When uninsured, he’s gone without his diabetes medication, which has landed him in the hospital. Four years ago, Corey applied and found out he qualifies for MinnesotaCare.

Since then, Corey has had access to life saving insulin and is therefore able to work and take care of his family. Like many low wage workers, Corey’s income changes a lot. Over the years, MinnesotaCare has been an important bridge between Medicaid and private coverage. Without MinnesotaCare, sometimes applying for a higher paying job or picking up extra hours would have meant giving up access to healthcare. With MinnesotaCare, Corey has been able to keep improving his ability to support his family while maintaining the consistent access to care that prevents worsening of his disease.

MinnesotaCare Means You Can Meet Your Basic Needs

Robert of Duluth is a truck driver without access to employer-sponsored health insurance.  For a long time, his household made a little bit too much money to qualify for MinnesotaCare and th e premiums for the products on the commercial market were more than he could afford, so he and his wife have been uninsured for the last 20 years.  Th ankfully they had no medical emergencies during that time.  This spring, with the help of a Navigator, Robert and his wife went on MNsure and found out they qualify for MinnesotaCare.

Shortly after enrolling, Robert had a heart attack and needed emergency medical care.  Robert now needs five prescription medications, which he can afford because of MinnesotaCare’s reasonable co-pays and premiums.  Without MinnesotaCare, Robert wonders if he would be able to afford to stay on his blood thinners or if he’d have to choose between groceries and his prescriptions.  Because of MinnesotaCare, Robert can meet all his basic needs.

MinnesotaCare Covers Folks Forced Into Early Retirement

John, a resident of Minnetonka, lost his job two years ago after working for the same company for 17 years. He couldn’t afford the $789/month Cobra premium, and the only work he had was facilitating an anger management course once a week.  So, he moved into early retirement at the age of 60. He tried to apply for private coverage, but was denied because of his diabetes. He went without insurance for 2 years, which meant going without his diabetes treatment.

With the ACA and MNsure, John enrolled and found out that he qualifies for MinnesotaCare. Unfortunately, during his period of uninsurance his diabetes had advanced and he faced serious consquences. This past fall, John had to have his toe amputated and spent five weeks in the hospital, with several more weeks of physical therapy to learn to walk again. Now, John is back to working part-time as an facilitator of anger management classes.

Without MinnesotaCare, John might still be postponing care, or in debt from his surgery. With MinnesotaCare, John can afford healthcare until he qualifies for Medicare.