Key issues: Health care
Our approach
Health insurance is an increasingly important benefit in the workplace, allowing employers to attract and retain talent in the marketplace and ensure their employees stay healthy and productive at work. And yet, Minnesota employers and workers are struggling with high health care costs. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, since 2017, Minnesota has reported among the highest median health care spending by families in the country, with our state ranking 3rd highest nationally in 2022. At the same time, roughly three-quarters of Minnesota Chamber members who currently offer health insurance to their employees report they will be forced to make significant changes to their offerings – including reductions in coverage and dropping coverage altogether – if costs continue to increase at their current rate.
Business community priorities
- Oppose health care taxes, mandates, and regulations that increase the cost of care.
- Improve coverage options and address the 2026 Individual Market Cliff.
- Oppose the creation of a new, state-government run public option health insurance plan.
- Address the public benefits cliff that hampers Minnesotans’ economic upward mobility.
- Establish an Independent Health Policy Commission.
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2025 outcomes
Business priorities
- Reinsurance continuation
- No new health insurance mandates
- No new health insurance / health care taxes
- Increased federal Medicaid funding for hospitals
- No public option
Policies we opposed
- 9 new health insurance mandates
- Many new health care/insurance regulations
- Several new or increased health care / health insurance taxes
Outcomes
- Reinsurance continued for 2026 & 2027
- New authority for hospitals to draw down increased Medicaid funds to offset commercial payer costs
- Public Option authority repealed
- No new health insurance mandates
- “Frozen Formulary” requirement only new HC reg to pass, limiting controls for prescription drug costs
- One new assessment on health insurers passed, raising insurance costs roughly $1.7 million a year
