Minnesota Council of Health Plans

• Represents Minnesota's local, nonprofit health plans.
• Brings member plans together to collaborate on making the health care system work better.
• Focuses on improving access to high-quality, affordable care for people across Minnesota.
• Uses data, education and advocacy to inform public policy and manage the cost of medical care on behalf of Minnesotans.

How the Council works

The Council works with a wide range of stakeholders to improve health care:

• People who deliver care: providers, hospitals and health systems.
• People who need care: children, adults and families across Minnesota.
• People who shape care: legislators, regulators, state health officials and others.

Key approaches include:

• Partnership: collaborating with stakeholders to promote policies and processes that make care more effective.
• Action: engaging in advocacy, education and legislative work to improve health care now and for future generations.
• Data: developing and using data to inform public policy and help manage expensive medical bills.
• Community focus: as nonprofit organizations, member plans invest their resources back into members and communities, not shareholders.

Who the Council serves

• Minnesotans covered by nonprofit health plans, including people with coverage through employers, individual coverage, Medicare and Medicaid.
• Communities across Minnesota that benefit from improved access to affordable, equitable and quality-based health care.

Key facts

• Number of member plans: 6.
• Minnesotans covered by member plans: more than 4.5 million.
• Approximate medical care paid per year by member plans: about $24.8 billion (figures from the Council's published materials; amounts may change over time).

Health insurance exists because health care needs and costs are often unpredictable. You may not know when you will get sick, be injured, or need expensive medical care. Health insurance helps people get access to care they otherwise might not be able to afford.

How health insurance helps

• You pay a monthly fee called a premium to have health insurance.
• When you need care, your health insurance helps pay your medical bills, according to the terms of your coverage.
• Health insurance helps spread out the cost of expensive health care across many people, rather than leaving individuals to pay very large bills on their own.

Preventive care and other covered services

Health insurance typically helps pay for:

• Preventive care, such as doctor visits, vaccinations and screenings.
• Other medically necessary services, as defined by the specific plan, such as hospital care, specialist visits and more.

The exact services covered, and how much you pay out of pocket, depend on your specific health plan. For details about your own coverage, contact your health plan directly.

Important reminders

• The Council provides general educational information and does not manage individual insurance policies or determine eligibility.
• For personal coverage questions (premiums, benefits, networks, appeals, etc.), contact your own health plan's customer service.
• For help understanding public programs such as Medicaid or MinnesotaCare, refer to official state resources or your health plan's guidance.

Lists Sanford, Marshall, Stafford, Council Bluffs, Davenport, El Cerrito, and Hollywood as a location. Names Minnesota and Hollywood as a service area. Areas beyond these are not published.

According to the Council's published materials, member plans include:

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
• HealthPartners
• Hennepin Health
• Medica
• Sanford Health Plan of Minnesota (also referenced as Sanford Health Plan or Sanford Health Plan of Minnesota)
• UCare

These companies are local, nonprofit health plans with a shared commitment to serving Minnesota communities.

What it means to be a nonprofit health plan

• Nonprofit health plans focus on putting members and communities first.
• Financial resources are reinvested into members and communities, not paid out to Wall Street shareholders.
• Whether people get insurance through work, buy it on their own, or have Medicare or Medicaid, these plans are responsible to the people and communities they serve.

For specific benefits, premiums, provider networks or coverage questions, members should contact their health plan directly using that plan's own customer service channels.

These contact details are for the Council itself. For questions about your specific health plan coverage, benefits or claims, contact your health plan directly (see the "Member Health Plans" document for participating plans).

Media and communications contacts

For media and communications inquiries, the Council lists the following contact:

• Communications and Media Relations: Ryan Davenport

Phone: 612-240-0492 Email: ryan@davenpr.com

Office notes

• The Council is an association of nonprofit health plans and does not sell insurance directly to individuals or employers.
• For time-sensitive or confidential questions, use the phone numbers provided or directly email the relevant staff member listed in the Staff directory document.

The Minnesota Council of Health Plans lists the following staff members and contact information.

Executive leadership

Lucas Nesse

• Role: President and CEO
• Phone: 651-529-1174
• Email: nesse@mnhealthplans.org

Policy and government affairs

Chelsey Olson

• Role: Legislative and Health Policy Manager
• Phone: 651-645-0099
• Email: olson@mnhealthplans.org

Dan Endreson

• Role: Sr. Director of Policy and Government Affairs
• Phone: 651-529-1179
• Email: endreson@mnhealthplans.org

Soo Lauby, LICSW

• Role: Director of Government Programs and Health Policy
• Phone: 612-849-5820 (mobile)
• Email: lauby@mnhealthplans.org

Operations and administration

Yvette Robinson

• Role: Executive Office Manager
• Phone: 651-529-1170
• Email: robinson@mnhealthplans.org

Communications

Ryan Davenport

• Role: Communications and Media Relations
• Phone: 612-240-0492
• Email: ryan@davenpr.com

Notes

• Staff roles and contact details may change over time; this directory reflects the listing in the Council's published materials.
• For the most current information, refer to the Council's website or contact the main office.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota

• Dana Erickson, President and CEO
• Monica Engel
• Lin Nelson

HealthPartners

• Andrea Walsh, President and CEO
• Barbara Cox
• Pahoua Hoffman

Medica

• Lisa Erickson, President and CEO
• Jay McLaren
• Kristy Wilfahrt

Sanford Health Plan of Minnesota

• Tommy Ibrahim, President and CEO
• Emily Griese
• Dylan Wheeler

UCare

• Hilary Marden-Resnik, President and CEO
• Greg Marshall
• Joel Ulland
• Marie Zimmerman

Notes

• Board membership and roles may change over time; this document reflects the board listing from the Council's published materials.
• For the most current board roster, refer to the Council's website or contact the Council directly.

• Care coordination is described as a highly individualized, holistic approach that supports members' health and wellbeing.
• It is especially important for people with complex and chronic conditions.
• Goals of care coordination include:
• Enhancing the patient experience.
• Reducing the cost of care.
• Improving the health of communities throughout Minnesota.

Keeping Minnesotans covered (Medicaid and MinnesotaCare)

• The Council recognizes that redetermining eligibility for approximately 1.5 million Minnesotans enrolled in Medicaid and MinnesotaCare after a multi-year pause is a major undertaking.
• State agencies, counties, tribes and health plans all play roles in helping people maintain coverage where they remain eligible.
• The Council highlights resources and efforts that support Minnesotans in staying covered during eligibility renewals.

Advancing health equity

• Minnesota's nonprofit health plans have a renewed focus on health equity.
• Member plans are implementing initiatives designed to:
• Support Minnesotans in their health care journey.
• Reduce disparities in access, outcomes and experiences.
• The Council shares examples of these programs and the people behind them in partnership with publications such as *Minnesota Physician*.

Vaccine equity and community health

• The Council describes lessons from a Vaccine Equity Partnership with the State of Minnesota.
• Key takeaways include:
• The importance of aligning communication and resources across partners.
• Opportunities to address social drivers of health to improve outcomes for under-resourced communities.
• The Council also promotes reminders and resources to help families keep children up to date on vaccines, including materials available in multiple languages and formats.

Notes

• Specific program details and featured stories may change over time; this document summarizes themes from the Council's published highlights.
• For current initiatives, resources and news, refer to the Council's website news and resource sections.

Ask anyway — the agent will say plainly that it is not published rather than guess.