Minnesota 2025 2025-2026 Regular Session

Minnesota Senate Bill SF1024 Engrossed / Bill

Filed 03/13/2025

                    1.1	A bill for an act​
1.2 relating to health insurance; establishing a premium subsidy program administered​
1.3 by MNsure; providing a sunset for the Minnesota premium security plan;​
1.4 appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 62E.23,​
1.5 subdivision 1; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 62V;​
1.6 repealing Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 62E.21; 62E.22; 62E.23; 62E.24;​
1.7 62E.25.​
1.8BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:​
1.9 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 62E.23, subdivision 1, is amended to read:​
1.10 Subdivision 1.Administration of plan.(a) The association is Minnesota's reinsurance​
1.11entity to administer the state-based reinsurance program referred to as the Minnesota premium​
1.12security plan.​
1.13 (b) The association may apply for any available federal funding for the plan. All funds​
1.14received by or appropriated to the association shall be deposited in the premium security​
1.15plan account in section 62E.25, subdivision 1. The association shall notify the chairs and​
1.16ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over health and​
1.17human services and insurance within ten days of receiving any federal funds.​
1.18 (c) The association must collect or access data from an eligible health carrier that are​
1.19necessary to determine reinsurance payments, according to the data requirements under​
1.20subdivision 5, paragraph (c).​
1.21 (d) The board must not use any funds allocated to the plan for staff retreats, promotional​
1.22giveaways, excessive executive compensation, or promotion of federal or state legislative​
1.23or regulatory changes.​
1​Section 1.​
S1024-1 1st Engrossment​SF1024 REVISOR RSI​
SENATE​
STATE OF MINNESOTA​
S.F. No. 1024​NINETY-FOURTH SESSION​
(SENATE AUTHORS: WIKLUND and Klein)​
OFFICIAL STATUS​D-PG​DATE​
Introduction and first reading​297​02/06/2025​
Referred to Health and Human Services​
Comm report: To pass as amended and re-refer to Commerce and Consumer Protection​03/13/2025​ 2.1 (e) For each applicable benefit year, the association must notify eligible health carriers​
2.2of reinsurance payments to be made for the applicable benefit year no later than June 30 of​
2.3the year following the applicable benefit year.​
2.4 (f) On a quarterly basis during the applicable benefit year, the association must provide​
2.5each eligible health carrier with the calculation of total reinsurance payment requests.​
2.6 (g) By August 15 of the year following the applicable benefit year, through August 15,​
2.72026, the association must disburse all applicable reinsurance payments to an eligible health​
2.8carrier.​
2.9 (h) The association must disburse applicable reinsurance payments for claims costs​
2.10incurred by eligible health carriers through December 31, 2025. Reinsurance payments are​
2.11not available to eligible health carriers for claims costs incurred after December 31, 2025.​
2.12 Sec. 2. [62V.15] DEFINITIONS; PREMIUM SUBSIDY PROGRAM.​
2.13 Subdivision 1.Scope.For purposes of sections 62V.15 to 62V.17, the following terms​
2.14have the meanings given.​
2.15 Subd. 2.Eligible individual.(a) "Eligible individual" means a Minnesota resident who:​
2.16 (1) is not eligible for an advance premium tax credit under Code of Federal Regulations,​
2.17title 26, part 1.36B-2, in a month in which the eligible individual's coverage is effective;​
2.18 (2) is not enrolled in public program coverage under chapters 256B and 256L; and​
2.19 (3) purchased an individual health plan, as defined in section 62A.011.​
2.20 (b) "Eligible individual" includes a person required to repay an advanced premium tax​
2.21credit because the person's income was subsequently determined to exceed the maximum​
2.22permissible amount to qualify as an applicable taxpayer under Code of Federal Regulations,​
2.23title 26, part 1.36B-2.​
2.24 Subd. 3.Gross premium."Gross premium" means the amount billed for a health plan​
2.25purchased by an eligible individual prior to a premium subsidy in a calendar year.​
2.26 Subd. 4.Net premium."Net premium" means the gross premium less the premium​
2.27subsidy.​
2.28 Subd. 5.Premium subsidy."Premium subsidy" means a payment (1) made on behalf​
2.29of an eligible individual to promote general welfare, and (2) that is not compensation for a​
2.30service rendered.​
2​Sec. 2.​
S1024-1 1st Engrossment​SF1024 REVISOR RSI​ 3.1 Sec. 3. [62V.16] PAYMENT TO HEALTH CARRIERS ON BEHALF OF ELIGIBLE​
3.2INDIVIDUALS.​
3.3 Subdivision 1.Program established.Beginning January 1, 2026, the board of directors​
3.4of MNsure, in consultation with the commissioners of commerce and human services, must​
3.5establish and administer the premium subsidy program authorized by this section to help​
3.6eligible individuals pay for coverage in the individual market.​
3.7 Subd. 2.Premium subsidy provided.(a) A health carrier must provide a premium​
3.8subsidy to each eligible individual who purchases an individual health plan, as defined in​
3.9section 62A.011, from the health carrier. The premium subsidy must be provided for each​
3.10month the net premium is paid. An eligible individual must pay the net premium amount​
3.11to the health carrier.​
3.12 (b) Each premium subsidy must be equal to 20 percent of the monthly gross premium​
3.13otherwise paid by or on behalf of the eligible individual for coverage purchased in the​
3.14individual market that covers the eligible individual and the eligible individual's spouse and​
3.15dependents.​
3.16 (c) The premium subsidy must be excluded from a calculation used to determine eligibility​
3.17for a Department of Human Services program.​
3.18 Subd. 3.Payments to health carriers.(a) The board must make payments to health​
3.19carriers on behalf of eligible individuals effectuating coverage for a calendar year for the​
3.20months during the calendar year for which the individual has paid the net premium amount​
3.21to the health carrier. The board must not withhold payment because a health carrier cannot​
3.22prove an enrollee is an eligible individual.​
3.23 (b) In order to be eligible for payment, a health carrier seeking reimbursement from the​
3.24board must submit an invoice and supporting information to the board, using a form​
3.25developed by the board. The board must finalize the form by November 1, 2025.​
3.26 (c) The board must consider a health carrier as a vendor under section 16A.124,​
3.27subdivision 3, and each monthly invoice must represent the services that have been completed​
3.28or delivered.​
3.29 (d) With each November forecast under section 16A.103, the board must certify the​
3.30extent to which appropriations exceed forecast obligations under this subdivision.​
3.31 (e) The board may withhold payments, charge back payments, and otherwise utilize all​
3.32authority granted to the board under state law to recover from health carriers premium​
3​Sec. 3.​
S1024-1 1st Engrossment​SF1024 REVISOR RSI​ 4.1subsidies provided but that do not comply with the applicable legal requirements of this​
4.2section.​
4.3 Subd. 4.Data practices.(a) The definitions in section 13.02 apply to this subdivision.​
4.4 (b) Government data on an enrollee or health carrier under this section are private data​
4.5on individuals or nonpublic data, except that the total reimbursement requested by a health​
4.6carrier and the total state payment to the health carrier are public data.​
4.7 Subd. 5.Data sharing.(a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the board must​
4.8disseminate data on an enrollee's public program coverage enrollment under chapters 256B​
4.9and 256L to health carriers to the extent the board determines data sharing is necessary to​
4.10determine the enrollee's eligibility for the premium subsidy program authorized by this​
4.11section.​
4.12 (b) Data shared under this subdivision may be collected, stored, or used only to administer​
4.13the premium subsidy program authorized by this section, and must not be further shared or​
4.14disseminated except as otherwise provided by law.​
4.15 Sec. 4. [62V.17] APPLICABILITY OF GROSS PREMIUM.​
4.16 Notwithstanding premium subsidies provided under section 62V.16, subdivision 2, the​
4.17premium base to calculate any applicable premium taxes under chapter 297I is the gross​
4.18premium for health plans purchased by eligible individuals in the individual market.​
4.19 Sec. 5. APPROPRIATION.​
4.20 $....... in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the general fund to the Board of Directors​
4.21of MNsure for premium assistance under Minnesota Statutes, section 62V.16. Any amount​
4.22that remains unexpended after fiscal year 2026 does not cancel and is available in fiscal​
4.23year 2027.​
4.24 Sec. 6. REVISOR INSTRUCTION.​
4.25 The revisor of statutes must remove or amend, as applicable, all references and provisions​
4.26relating to the premium security account and the Minnesota premium security plan in​
4.27Minnesota Statutes to reflect the expiration of the Minnesota premium security plan as​
4.28intended in this act.​
4​Sec. 6.​
S1024-1 1st Engrossment​SF1024 REVISOR RSI​ 5.1 Sec. 7. REPEALER.​
5.2 Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 62E.21; 62E.22; 62E.23; 62E.24; and 62E.25, are​
5.3repealed.​
5.4 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective August 16, 2026.​
5​Sec. 7.​
S1024-1 1st Engrossment​SF1024 REVISOR RSI​ 62E.21 DEFINITIONS.​
Subdivision 1.Application.For the purposes of sections 62E.21 to 62E.25, the terms defined​
in this section have the meanings given them.​
Subd. 2.Affordable Care Act."Affordable Care Act" means the federal act as defined in​
section 62A.011, subdivision 1a.​
Subd. 3.Attachment point."Attachment point" means an amount as provided in section 62E.23,​
subdivision 2, paragraph (b).​
Subd. 4.Benefit year."Benefit year" means the calendar year for which an eligible health​
carrier provides coverage through an individual health plan.​
Subd. 5.Board."Board" means the board of directors of the Minnesota Comprehensive Health​
Association created under section 62E.10.​
Subd. 6.Coinsurance rate."Coinsurance rate" means the rate as provided in section 62E.23,​
subdivision 2, paragraph (c).​
Subd. 7.Commissioner."Commissioner" means the commissioner of commerce.​
Subd. 8.Eligible health carrier."Eligible health carrier" means all of the following that offer​
individual health plans and incur claims costs for an individual enrollee's covered benefits in the​
applicable benefit year:​
(1) an insurance company licensed under chapter 60A to offer, sell, or issue a policy of accident​
and sickness insurance as defined in section 62A.01;​
(2) a nonprofit health service plan corporation operating under chapter 62C; or​
(3) a health maintenance organization operating under chapter 62D.​
Subd. 9.Individual health plan."Individual health plan" means a health plan as defined in​
section 62A.011, subdivision 4, that is not a grandfathered plan as defined in section 62A.011,​
subdivision 1b.​
Subd. 10.Individual market."Individual market" has the meaning given in section 62A.011,​
subdivision 5.​
Subd. 11.Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association or association."Minnesota​
Comprehensive Health Association" or "association" has the meaning given in section 62E.02,​
subdivision 14.​
Subd. 12.Minnesota premium security plan or plan."Minnesota premium security plan" or​
"plan" means the state-based reinsurance program authorized under section 62E.23.​
Subd. 13.Payment parameters."Payment parameters" means the attachment point, reinsurance​
cap, and coinsurance rate for the plan.​
Subd. 14.Reinsurance cap."Reinsurance cap" means the threshold amount as provided in​
section 62E.23, subdivision 2, paragraph (d).​
Subd. 15.Reinsurance payments."Reinsurance payments" means an amount paid by the​
association to an eligible health carrier under the plan.​
62E.22 DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER.​
The commissioner shall require eligible health carriers to calculate the premium amount the​
eligible health carrier would have charged for the benefit year if the Minnesota premium security​
plan had not been established. The eligible health carrier must submit this information as part of​
its rate filing. The commissioner must consider this information as part of the rate review.​
62E.23 MINNESOTA PREMIUM SECURITY PLAN.​
Subdivision 1.Administration of plan.(a) The association is Minnesota's reinsurance entity​
to administer the state-based reinsurance program referred to as the Minnesota premium security​
plan.​
(b) The association may apply for any available federal funding for the plan. All funds received​
by or appropriated to the association shall be deposited in the premium security plan account in​
section 62E.25, subdivision 1. The association shall notify the chairs and ranking minority members​
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Repealed Minnesota Statutes: S1024-1​ of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over health and human services and insurance within​
ten days of receiving any federal funds.​
(c) The association must collect or access data from an eligible health carrier that are necessary​
to determine reinsurance payments, according to the data requirements under subdivision 5, paragraph​
(c).​
(d) The board must not use any funds allocated to the plan for staff retreats, promotional​
giveaways, excessive executive compensation, or promotion of federal or state legislative or​
regulatory changes.​
(e) For each applicable benefit year, the association must notify eligible health carriers of​
reinsurance payments to be made for the applicable benefit year no later than June 30 of the year​
following the applicable benefit year.​
(f) On a quarterly basis during the applicable benefit year, the association must provide each​
eligible health carrier with the calculation of total reinsurance payment requests.​
(g) By August 15 of the year following the applicable benefit year, the association must disburse​
all applicable reinsurance payments to an eligible health carrier.​
Subd. 2.Payment parameters.(a) The board must design and adjust the payment parameters​
to ensure the payment parameters:​
(1) will stabilize or reduce premium rates in the individual market;​
(2) will increase participation in the individual market;​
(3) will improve access to health care providers and services for those in the individual market;​
(4) mitigate the impact high-risk individuals have on premium rates in the individual market;​
(5) take into account any federal funding available for the plan; and​
(6) take into account the total amount available to fund the plan.​
(b) The attachment point for the plan is the threshold amount for claims costs incurred by an​
eligible health carrier for an enrolled individual's covered benefits in a benefit year, beyond which​
the claims costs for benefits are eligible for reinsurance payments. The attachment point shall be​
set by the board at $50,000 or more, but not exceeding the reinsurance cap.​
(c) The coinsurance rate for the plan is the rate at which the association will reimburse an eligible​
health carrier for claims incurred for an enrolled individual's covered benefits in a benefit year​
above the attachment point and below the reinsurance cap. The coinsurance rate shall be set by the​
board at a rate between 50 and 80 percent.​
(d) The reinsurance cap is the threshold amount for claims costs incurred by an eligible health​
carrier for an enrolled individual's covered benefits, after which the claims costs for benefits are​
no longer eligible for reinsurance payments. The reinsurance cap shall be set by the board at $250,000​
or less.​
(e) The board may adjust the payment parameters to the extent necessary to secure federal​
approval of the state innovation waiver request in Laws 2017, chapter 13, article 1, section 8.​
Subd. 3.Operation.(a) The board shall propose to the commissioner the payment parameters​
for the next benefit year by January 15 of the year before the applicable benefit year. The​
commissioner shall approve or reject the payment parameters no later than 14 days following the​
board's proposal. If the commissioner fails to approve or reject the payment parameters within 14​
days following the board's proposal, the proposed payment parameters are final and effective.​
(b) If the amount in the premium security plan account in section 62E.25, subdivision 1, is not​
anticipated to be adequate to fully fund the approved payment parameters as of July 1 of the year​
before the applicable benefit year, the board, in consultation with the commissioner and the​
commissioner of management and budget, shall propose payment parameters within the available​
appropriations. The commissioner must permit an eligible health carrier to revise an applicable rate​
filing based on the final payment parameters for the next benefit year.​
(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), the payment parameters for benefit years 2023 through 2027​
are:​
(1) an attachment point of $50,000;​
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APPENDIX​
Repealed Minnesota Statutes: S1024-1​ (2) a coinsurance rate of 80 percent; and​
(3) a reinsurance cap of $250,000.​
Subd. 4.Calculation of reinsurance payments.(a) Each reinsurance payment must be calculated​
with respect to an eligible health carrier's incurred claims costs for an individual enrollee's covered​
benefits in the applicable benefit year. If the claims costs do not exceed the attachment point, the​
reinsurance payment is $0. If the claims costs exceed the attachment point, the reinsurance payment​
shall be calculated as the product of the coinsurance rate and the lesser of:​
(1) the claims costs minus the attachment point; or​
(2) the reinsurance cap minus the attachment point.​
(b) The board must ensure that reinsurance payments made to eligible health carriers do not​
exceed the total amount paid by the eligible health carrier for any eligible claim. "Total amount​
paid of an eligible claim" means the amount paid by the eligible health carrier based upon the​
allowed amount less any deductible, coinsurance, or co-payment, as of the time the data are submitted​
or made accessible under subdivision 5, paragraph (c).​
Subd. 5.Eligible carrier requests for reinsurance payments.(a) An eligible health carrier​
may request reinsurance payments from the association when the eligible health carrier meets the​
requirements of this subdivision and subdivision 4.​
(b) An eligible health carrier must make requests for reinsurance payments in accordance with​
any requirements established by the board.​
(c) An eligible health carrier must provide the association with access to the data within the​
dedicated data environment established by the eligible health carrier under the federal risk adjustment​
program under United States Code, title 42, section 18063. Eligible health carriers must submit an​
attestation to the board asserting compliance with the dedicated data environments, data requirements,​
establishment and usage of masked enrollee identification numbers, and data submission deadlines.​
(d) An eligible health carrier must provide the access described in paragraph (c) for the applicable​
benefit year by April 30 of each year of the year following the end of the applicable benefit year.​
(e) An eligible health carrier must maintain documents and records, whether paper, electronic,​
or in other media, sufficient to substantiate the requests for reinsurance payments made pursuant​
to this section for a period of at least six years. An eligible health carrier must also make those​
documents and records available upon request from the commissioner for purposes of verification,​
investigation, audit, or other review of reinsurance payment requests.​
(f) An eligible health carrier may follow the appeals procedure under section 62E.10, subdivision​
2a.​
(g) The association may have an eligible health carrier audited to assess the health carrier's​
compliance with the requirements of this section. The eligible health carrier must ensure that its​
contractors, subcontractors, or agents cooperate with any audit under this section. If an audit results​
in a proposed finding of material weakness or significant deficiency with respect to compliance​
with any requirement of this section, the eligible health carrier may provide a response to the​
proposed finding within 30 days. Within 30 days of the issuance of a final audit report that includes​
a finding of material weakness or significant deficiency, the eligible health carrier must:​
(1) provide a written corrective action plan to the association for approval;​
(2) implement the approved plan; and​
(3) provide the association with written documentation of the corrective action once taken.​
Subd. 6.Data.Government data of the association under this section are private data on​
individuals, or nonpublic data, as defined under section 13.02, subdivision 9 or 12.​
62E.24 ACCOUNTING, REPORTS, AND AUDITS OF THE ASSOCIATION.​
Subdivision 1.Accounting.The board must keep an accounting for each benefit year of all:​
(1) funds appropriated for reinsurance payments and administrative and operational expenses;​
(2) requests for reinsurance payments received from eligible health carriers;​
(3) reinsurance payments made to eligible health carriers; and​
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APPENDIX​
Repealed Minnesota Statutes: S1024-1​ (4) administrative and operational expenses incurred for the plan.​
Subd. 2.Reports.(a) The board must submit to the commissioner and to the chairs and ranking​
minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over commerce and health and​
make available to the public quarterly reports on plan operations and an annual report summarizing​
the plan operations for each benefit year. All reports must be made public by posting the report on​
the Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association website. The annual summary must be made​
available by November 1 of the year following the applicable benefit year or 60 calendar days​
following the final disbursement of reinsurance payments for the applicable benefit year, whichever​
is later.​
(b) The reports must include information about:​
(1) the reinsurance parameters used;​
(2) the metal levels affected;​
(3) the number of claims payments estimated and submitted for payment per products offered​
on-exchange and off-exchange and per eligible health carrier;​
(4) the estimated reinsurance payments by plan type based on carrier-submitted templates;​
(5) funds appropriated for reinsurance payments and administrative and operational expenses​
for each year, including the federal and state contributions received, investment income, and any​
other revenue or funds received;​
(6) the total amount of reinsurance payments made to each eligible health carrier; and​
(7) administrative and operational expenses incurred for the plan, including the total amount​
incurred and as a percentage of the plan's operational budget.​
Subd. 3.Legislative auditor.The Minnesota premium security plan is subject to audit by the​
legislative auditor. The board must ensure that its contractors, subcontractors, or agents cooperate​
with the audit.​
Subd. 4.Independent external audit.(a) The board must engage and cooperate with an​
independent certified public accountant or CPA firm licensed or permitted under chapter 326A to​
perform an audit for each benefit year of the plan, in accordance with generally accepted auditing​
standards. The audit must at a minimum:​
(1) assess compliance with the requirements of sections 62E.21 to 62E.25; and​
(2) identify any material weaknesses or significant deficiencies and address manners in which​
to correct any such material weaknesses or deficiencies.​
(b) The board, after receiving the completed audit, must:​
(1) provide the commissioner the results of the audit;​
(2) identify to the commissioner any material weakness or significant deficiency identified in​
the audit and address in writing to the commissioner how the board intends to correct any such​
material weakness or significant deficiency in compliance with subdivision 5; and​
(3) make public the results of the audit, to the extent the audit contains government data that is​
public, including any material weakness or significant deficiency and how the board intends to​
correct the material weakness or significant deficiency, by posting the audit results on the Minnesota​
Comprehensive Health Association website and making the audit results otherwise available.​
Subd. 5.Actions on audit findings.(a) If an audit results in a finding of material weakness or​
significant deficiency with respect to compliance by the association with any requirement under​
sections 62E.21 to 62E.25, the board must:​
(1) provide a written corrective action plan to the commissioner for approval within 60 days of​
the completed audit;​
(2) implement the corrective action plan; and​
(3) provide the commissioner with written documentation of the corrective actions taken.​
(b) By December 1 of each year, the board must submit a report to the standing committees of​
the legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services and insurance regarding any​
finding of material weakness or significant deficiency found in an audit.​
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APPENDIX​
Repealed Minnesota Statutes: S1024-1​ 62E.25 ACCOUNTS.​
Subdivision 1.Premium security plan account.The premium security plan account is created​
in the special revenue fund of the state treasury. Funds in the account are appropriated annually to​
the commissioner of commerce for grants to the Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association for​
the operational and administrative costs and reinsurance payments relating to the start-up and​
operation of the Minnesota premium security plan. Notwithstanding section 11A.20, all investment​
income and all investment losses attributable to the investment of the premium security plan account​
shall be credited to the premium security plan account.​
Subd. 2.Deposits.Except as provided in subdivision 3, funds received by the commissioner​
of commerce or other state agency pursuant to the state innovation waiver request in Laws 2017,​
chapter 13, article 1, section 8, shall be deposited in the premium security plan account in subdivision​
1.​
Subd. 3.Basic health plan trust account.Funds received by the commissioner of commerce​
or other state agency pursuant to the state innovation waiver request in Laws 2017, chapter 13,​
article 1, section 8, that are attributable to the basic health program shall be deposited in the basic​
health plan trust account in the federal fund.​
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APPENDIX​
Repealed Minnesota Statutes: S1024-1​