A group of nearly 60 DFL House and Senate members announced Wednesday the formation of the Minnesota Health Plan Caucus, aimed at moving forward legislation that would provide healthcare to all Minnesotans.
"The work that we're doing and the reason we decided to form this caucus is because there has been a tremendous amount of grassroots organizing done by citizen groups and advocacy groups in Minnesota to build up education and awareness about the Minnesota Health Plan," said Senator Jennifer McEwen, DFL-Duluth.
The Minnesota Health Plan, a longtime effort of Sen. John Marty (DFL-Roseville), proposes a single, statewide plan that would cover all Minnesotans for all their medical needs.
According to the plan, "There are currently about 250,000 Minnesotans without any health insurance, and at least a million more who have insurance, but still cannot afford their medical bills due to co-payments, deductibles, and care not covered by their insurance, even after they pay high premiums. The MN Health Plan would eliminate the problem of un-insurance and under-insurance. It would replace our costly insurance system with healthcare for all. Equally important, it would reduce the need for costly medical care through public health, education, prevention, and early intervention."
Sen. McEwen said Wednesday that Minnesotans living outside the metro are being hit hardest by profit-driven healthcare and resulting consolidation within the healthcare industry.
"We have a situation now in Grand Marais where people who are having a child there have to make a 2.5 hour drive on a two-lane highway to get down to Duluth to deliver a baby," McEwen said. "That's unacceptable. It shouldn't be like and there's no reason we should have those shortages. This health plan would give us more control and ensure we have adequate services."
Rep. Liz Reyer (DFL-Eagan) believes the Minnesota Health Plan would redesign the state's flawed system.
"It takes out structural barriers between patients and providers, equalizes the opportunity for small and large businesses, and it removes much of the costly complexity in our current system," Reyer said. "It creates openings for entrepreneurship because people are no longer bound to jobs to keep their benefits."
Sen. Marty and Representative Cedrick Frazier introduced the bill in 2021 with over 50 co-authors.
"I've been around a long time so when I say it's urgent, they'll say, 'Well yeah, it's always urgent,'" Marty said. "I think they're coming fresh off campaigns, their first time running, and seeing this. What's happening in our state is not acceptable. It's a shame."
Marty hopes that by forming the caucus, the bill will bring more conversation in the legislative session that begins Monday.
"We came together for the sole purpose of trying to figure out the strategy to make this happen, we have to make this happen," he said. "Some folks in my own party will say that this isn't going to happen, or we can't go that fast, or we have tinker here or do better here. Frances Perkins pushed for this almost 90 years ago as part of the New Deal."
GOP Sen. Jeremy Miller said Wednesday that the Senate most likely wouldn't support the measure, or any like it.
"I don't think there's an interest amongst senate Republicans on a government-run, bureaucratic health system or plan," Miller said."
