MNsure's Babe the Blue Ox Drops Excrement onto Southeastern Minnesota

Ironwood County, like the rest of the counties in southeastern Minnesota, has been written off by insurance companies, as evidenced by the recent MNsure site revelations. Higher insurance rates and few offerings are what every resident in SE MN can look forward to under the new "affordable care act." The boys at Bill's Café (those who understand it) had more than a few words to say about this development.

Jack Kiln was particularly incensed. "I know this doesn't affect everyone at this table," he said, "but it makes it a lot more expensive to live here, and if you look deeper into the actual rates that are filed with the state, they're a lot higher than are listed on the 'what you'll pay' page."

"I don't understand," said Bill. "Can't I keep my current insurance?"

"Only if your plan goes back more than a few years."

Bill scratched his head. "Hm. I raised my deductible last year."

"Then, as a sole proprietor of a business, you'll probably have to go to the exchange, or get a policy that's virtually identical from an agent."

"Then you're saying that I have only one choice of a plan from one company in Ironwood County?"

"Yes," said Kiln, "unless something changes quickly."

Joe Johnson leaned on the table, intrigued. "But what about other counties in southern Minnesota? Are we all written off?"

"Not all, but it's not much better. Some of them have two companies offering a plan. But even those plans are more expensive than anywhere else in Minnesota."

"Hold on on minute," Bill said, now irate. "You're saying that if I move to Rice County, let's say, a few miles away into south-central Minnesota, that I can get a better rate?"

"Yes," Kiln said. "Same plan. Same doctors. Less cost."

"So why are we getting ripped off?"

"No one's giving an answer," Kiln said. "All we know is that Ironwood and other counties are the pariahs of the state."

"Isn't this supposed to be fair and affordable health care?" Joe asked.

"Fair for some," Kiln said.

"Ain't we all one state?" Bill asked. "Isn't this MNsure--not 'Let's cut the counties up for the insurance companies'?

"All I know is that it is far more expensive in SE MN than anywhere else in the state," Kiln said.

Bill scratched his head again. "So MNsure's Babe the Blue Ox dropped a big pile of excrement onto SE Minnesota."

"Yep," said Kiln.