MNcare Helps MN Work – #2 in a Series: Spotlight on Families and the Self-Employed

MinnesotaCare is working for many Minnesota families. Here are some of their stories.

MinnesotaCare Covers Farmers

Starting a farm business takes a lot of time, energy, and planning.  As beginning farmers in Litchfield, Nick and Joan Olson have been working for the past six years to capitalize their business and scale-up production in order to make the transition to full-time farming.  The cost of health insurance has always been a barrier as they looked to make this transition.  Two months ago they made the leap when Nick quit the job that provided the family of four with insurance, and MinnesotaCare made it possible.

As the Olson’s farm business grows, they’ll be able to afford other health insurance options, but MinnesotaCare has been a key factor in helping them actualize their dreams of farming full-time. The family of four now has comprehensive coverage at a price they can afford. One aspect important to the Olson’s is that the coverage allows them to continue working with their previous doctors and health care providers.

The growing season is off to a good start and now they have one less thing to worry about knowing that they’ve got affordable, quality health insurance through MinnesotaCare.

MinnesotaCare Provides Peace of Mind

Gabe is a graphic designer who lives in Minneapolis. He was born with a pre-existing condition called hydrocephalus. Thankfully, he can lead what many people would call a normal life, so long as he has the tube surgically implanted in his brain is functioning well. When it fails, there is no warning and Gabe needs brain surgery to replace it to save his life. As a result, he needs to make sure that he has coverage at all times.

The last time Gabe had issues was a few years ago, and the process involved multiple surgeries and about two weeks in the ICU to clear up an infection. His medical bills totaled almost $125,000; as much as a mortgage.

As a graphic designer, having MinnesotaCare has allowed Gabe to go on doing the work he wants to do without needing to worry about whether or not he can afford the healthcare that he needs. Gabe had a full-time job with benefits up until January of 2014, but he was laid off and started to freelance. He went to the MNsure exchange to find coverage, and was surprised to find out that he qualified for MinnesotaCare. Gabe has turned down potential job opportunities in the past because they didn’t include health insurance, but now MinnesotaCare affords him the peace of mind that regardless of his work situation, he’s covered.

MinnesotaCare Supports Mothers

Jane is an acupuncturist and massage therapist in Minneapolis. By the time Jane was 40, she had never had health insurance because she uses alternative medicine to care for her health. However, as Jane says, life has a way of bringing you new challenges.

She became pregnant and her daughter, Isabelle, was born with Down Syndrome and a hole in her heart. They spent three weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit. Jane’s birth and Isabelle’s neonatal care were covered by Medical Assistance. Combined with alternative medicine, Isabelle’s heart healed completely. But as a parent of a special needs child, Jane needed to work less, and she no longer felt she could take the risk of going uninsured. The combination of MinnesotaCare for Jane and Medical Assistance for Isabelle have kept them healthy, and allowed Jane to keep working while caring for her daughter.