This guide lists various programs or agencies that provide health care services or information about services or insurance in specific situations. The information in this guide is divided by the following topics:

MNsure
Cobra
Senior Information
Lower Cost Dental Services
Health Care for Children or Persons with Disabilities
General Insurance Information
Prescription Drugs
Veterans Information

MnSure

1-855-366-7873
MNsure is Minnesota's health insurance marketplace where individuals and families can shop, compare and choose health insurance coverage that meets their needs. MNsure is the only place you can apply for financial help to lower the cost of your monthly insurance premium and out-of-pocket costs.

Cobra and Minnesota Continuation Coverage

You continue with the employer group coverage you had, usually for a limited period of 18 or 36 months. In determining COBRA premiums, the plan can include the costs paid by employees and the employer, plus an additional 2 percent for administrative costs. To get this coverage a "qualifying event" must occur.

COBRA How to Continue Your Health Coverage on the Managed Care Systems Section website lists some of these qualifying events and other information about COBRA and Minnesota continuation coverage. For additional information on federal COBRA regulations, see the U. S. Department of Labor website.

Senior Information

Medicare
1-800-633-4227 (1-800-MEDICARE)
Medicare Compares health plans and medigap policies in your area. Compare Medicare prescription drug plans. Read about the different types of health plans: Medigap, Medicare Advantage, Medicare related health plans, Original Medicare and their prices.
Minnesota Board on Aging
(651) 431-2500 or 1-800-882-6262
The Minnesota Board on Aging develops, coordinates, evaluates, and administers federal and state funds for the aging, makes grants to seven area agencies on aging and to nonprofit agencies, and serves as an advocate for older persons.
Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care (mn.gov)
Social Security Administration
1-800-772-1213
Social Security Administration provides public information about and supplemental security programs, as well as information on eligibility for Medicare.
Senior LinkAge Line® 1-800-333-2433
The Senior LinkAge Line® is a service of the Minnesota Board on Aging in partnership with Minnesota's area agencies on aging. A One Stop Shop for Minnesota Seniors is a nonprofit telephone and referral service which is free to seniors and their families. They assist seniors with health insurance or Medicare-related questions and help seniors and others locate lower cost prescription drugs. They connect seniors with government agencies to get questions answered or problems resolved.
Children's Defense Fund - Minnesota
(651) 227-6121
The Children's Defense Fund - Minnesota helps uninsured or poorly insured families with children understand some of their health care options. Clinics are listed by county. Many of the listed clinics provide service to adults as well.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, metro area
(651) 431-5940 or TTY 888-206-6513 or VP (651) 9641514
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services is part of the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
Essential Community Providers
These clinics provide care to high-risk and special needs individuals and to individuals with limited access to health care services. Patients pay based on a sliding fee scale. The Minnesota Department of Health, Managed Care Systems Section maintains an Essential Community Providers list.
Community Health Service Inc.
(218) 236-6502 or 1-800-842-8693
Community Health Service Inc. provide services to retired and disabled farm workers. They also have programs to assist victims of abuse.
Minnesota Department of Health
(651) 201-5414 or 1-877-676-5414
The Refugee Health Program provides a directory of Health Resources Serving Diverse Cultural Communities. The directory lists by counties resources for health and dental services, mental health, home care, services for battered women and those sexually assaulted, and some social services. Many of these resources provide services at a lower cost and are available to refugees and others.
Portico HealthNet
(651) 489-2273 or 1-866-489-4899
Making health care services possible for all Minnesotans - Portico Healthnet refers callers to community clinics that were formerly part of the Neighborhood Health Care Network (NHCN) in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas and to other community clinics throughout the state. The clinics provide a wide range of services including primary/preventive services, prenatal care, reproductive services, and dental care. Ask whether the clinic offers a sliding fee scale, offers a fee payment schedule, or accepts public assistance, MinnesotaCare® or other private insurance plans.
Sage Screening Program
1-888-643-2584
The Sage Screening Program provides free breast and cervical cancer screening and free or low-cost colposcopies to Minnesota women age 40 and over who are uninsured or underinsured and who meet income eligibility. Services are provided at participating facilities.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration
Health Resources and Services Administration serves populations with limited access to health care. These include low income populations, the uninsured, those with limited English proficiency, migrant and seasonal farm workers, individuals and families experiencing homelessness, and those living in public housing. Services are provided on a sliding fee scale.
United Way 2-1-1 - First Call for Help
Use this number to reach your local First Call for Help: 211 or 1-800-543-7709
Please note that 211 works from many but not all cell phones.
First Call for Help, is a community answer line that provides you with information about, and refers you to, individual and family services. Trained volunteers provide information on health services, health issues, counseling, childcare, legal help, transportation, and more. Phones are answered 24 hours a day. For the Twin Cities area see For the Twin Cities area see Greater Twin Cities United Way.

Lower Cost Dental Services

Dental Care for Children - Free Give Kids a Smile, Free Dental Care for Children. The annual free dental care for children whose families who cannot afford dental care is usually offered the first Friday and Saturday in February. The Minnesota Dental Association website has details about this service including participating dental clinics.

Contact these organizations to locate lower cost dental care in your area:

Minnesota Dental Association - Low Cost Twin Cities Clinics
(612) 767-8400 or 1-800-950-3368
Minneapolis District Dental Society
(651) 631-9845
St. Paul District Dental Society
(651) 697-0831
Portico HealthNet
(651) 489-2273 or 1-866-489-4899
University of Minnesota Dental Clinic
(612) 625-2495
Supervised dental work at the University of Minnesota Dental Clinic is done by students in their last two years of dental school. For orthodontic work call (612) 625-6444. Supervised orthodontic work is done by residents who have finished their dentistry schooling and are now specializing in orthodontics.

Health Care for Persons with Disabilities

TEFRA
As a component of Medical Assistance, TEFRA (Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act), helps families cover health care costs for their severely disabled children who would otherwise require institutional-level care. Eligibility is based on the child's income, assets, and level of disability, and other requirements. Eligibility is not based on the parent's income or assets. Contact your county human service agency for more information. A list of county agencies can be found in the County and tribal directory for Minnesota Health Care Programs.
Minnesota Children and Youth with Special Health Needs
651-201-3650 (Child and Family Health Division) or 1-800-728-5420
The Minnesota Children and Youth with Special Health Needs section of the Minnesota Department of Health is a referral resource for Minnesota families with children under 21 who have disabling or potentially disabling conditions or chronic illnesses. They help families locate services and resources.
Shriners Hospital for Children - Twin Cities
612-596-6100
The Shriners Twin Cities Unit provides care to children with neuromusculoskeletal and orthopedic conditions. All care provided at or authorized by the hospital is provided at no charge to patients and parents when they do not have health insurance.
Disability Hub MN
Call 866-333-2466 or visit online disabilityhubmn.org, A free statewide resource network that helps people solve problems, navigate the system and plan for their future.

General Insurance Information

Minnesota Department of Commerce
651-296-4026 or 1-800-657-3602
The Minnesota Department of Commerce regulates insurance companies and insurance agents. They do not regulate Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs). This department answers questions and addresses complaints about the companies it regulates.
Minnesota Department of Health
651-201-5100 or 1-800-657-3916
The Managed Care Systems section of the Minnesota Department of Health regulates Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs). This department answers questions and addresses complaints about the companies it regulates.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
1-800-358-9295
The federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality cover topics such as medical treatment effectiveness, health care costs and utilization, health care expenditures, health information systems, health technology assessment, clinical practice guidelines, and funding opportunities for grants and contracts.
Health Insurance Counseling Program
1-800-333-2433
The Health Insurance Counseling Program for seniors provides information, counseling, and public education about health insurance. This is the Senior LinkAge Line®. It is Minnesota's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).
National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions
(703) 684-1355
The National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions provides information on children's hospitals and what to consider when a child will be hospitalized.
National Association of Insurance Commissioners
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners web site provides information about different types of insurance including health insurance. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) provides expertise, data, and analysis for insurance commissioners to effectively regulate the industry and protect consumers.
National Health Information Center, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
1-800-336-4797
The National Health Information Center is a health information referral service which locates organizations as resources for health professionals and consumers who have health-related questions. Also see Healthfinder.gov for health information, healthy living and prevention information, and lists of toll-free numbers to organizations that provide health-related information, education and support.

Prescription Drugs

Minnesota Board on Aging, Senior LinkAge Line®, 1-800-333-2433
The Senior LinkAge Line helps Minnesota residents of all ages find programs that provide free or discounted prescription drugs. Most of these programs have income and eligibility requirements. Applications are provided. This service is provided by the Minnesota Board on Aging through the Senior LinkAge Line®.
Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D)
Medicare Part D Open Enrollment occurs each year. During this time enrollees can make changes to their Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. The Medicare website encourages enrollees to make changes by early December of each year to assure prescription coverage is available right away January 1.
- Contact the Senior LinkAge Line® at 1-800-333-2433 or Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 (TTY: 1-877-486-2048) for questions about Medicare Part D. The Minnesota Board on Aging and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services | CMS provide updates on this benefit.
- Certain enrollees are eligible for a partial or full subsidy to help pay for this drug benefit. This subsidy is sometimes referred to as the "Low Income Subsidy" or "Extra Help." View the Social Security website or call the State of Minnesota Senior LinkAge Line® at 1-800-333-2433 to see if you would be eligible to apply for assistance. Some individuals automatically receive this assistance and would not need to apply for it.
Patient Assistance Programs
Many pharmaceutical companies provide reduced price or free drugs to eligible people. Two resources linking to patient assistance programs are RXAssist and Needymeds. You can check to see if your prescription drugs are available at a lower cost and if you are eligible for the programs. On the NeedyMeds web site, click on Generic Name List, or Brand Name List, or Company List to see if your drug is listed and for information about the specific prescription assistance programs.
Free Prescription Drug Discount Cards
These cards offer prescription drug discounts. Some are pre activated and ready to use at participating pharmacies.
- The Minnesota Drug Card is a free card available to all Minnesotans. There are no eligibility requirements. The card provides an average savings of 30 percent, sometimes as much as 75 percent, on prescription drugs. Useful for the uninsured, underinsured, and for even the insured who need help paying for prescription drugs the insurance does not cover. Call 1-888-952-8376.
- The FamilyWize® prescription drug discount card is also a free card. There are no eligibility requirements. Participating pharmacies "have agreed to provide prices similar to what they give large insurance companies and employers." You get the discount price or the pharmacy's usual and customary retail price, whichever is lower. On average, generics cost 20-70% less. Can be used on generic or brand name drugs. Call toll-free 866-810-3784. FamilyWize cards are also available by calling United Way 2-1-1.

Veterans

Veterans Linkage Line 1-888-546-5838 (1-888-LINKVET), TTY: 1-800-627-3529. Provides veterans and family members with information or resources on veterans' benefits, claims, health care, counseling, and many other topics.
Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs - State of Minnesota (mn.gov)