MinnesotaCare Out of Pocket Costs Rising

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Tens of thousands of low-income Minnesota residents in a subsidized health care program will see a big jump in many out-of-pocket costs next year.

A hospital stay will now run $150 for MinnesotaCare enrollees, while an outpatient visit will be $25. Both had been free. And co-pays for a routine doctor visit will jump from $3 to $15.

The cost hikes are outlined in a letter to lawmakers obtained by The Associated Press. And they may surprise many users of MinnesotaCare.

That's because the state sent out notices for 2016 plans earlier this fall listing lower costs. The state says it sent the notices before the cost hikes were finalized.

Some 90,000 households are on MinnesotaCare.