Lower health care costs are projected

For the second consecutive year, House-led reforms have helped reduce or hold flat individual market health insurance rates after years of double-digit increases.

The Minnesota Department of Commerce on Friday released preliminary rates for the 2019 individual insurance market, revealing that all five of the carriers on the individual market are projected to decrease premiums for 2019.

Average preliminary rates are dropping between three and 12.4 percent.

The individual market serves Minnesotans who buy health insurance on their own, not through an employer or the government.

“Minnesota was a national leader in health care before our state turned itself upside down to get on board with Obamacare,” said Rep. Chris Swedzinski, R-Ghent.

“That put us on a downward spiral, with insurance costs soaring at a rate that has crippled many family budgets in Greater Minnesota. That’s an amazing turnaround,” said Swedzinski.