Health Insurers Still Not Interested in MNsure

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — An effort to recruit additional health insurers to Minnesota's state-run exchange has come up empty.

The Star Tribune reports that state officials asked potential insurers last month to specify waivers of state laws or rules that might allow them to add options for coverage particularly outside the metro area.

As of Friday's deadline, no applicants surfaced. Two county-based groups that manage care for Medicaid enrollees in rural areas said they were interested, but couldn't make it work for 2017.

The Minnesota Department of Health says it'll continue discussing and exploring those opportunities although it's unlikely that coverage options can come together for the upcoming enrollment period.

About 5 percent of state residents currently buy coverage in the individual market, through insurers, brokers or MNsure, the Minnesota-run exchange.