This is a listing of various health care resources in the Metro Area. These health care plans eligibility requirements may change, so please call first to request information.
The information below does not imply endorsement, it is provided for information only.

Health Care (lower cost)

      Assurant

      Blue Cross

      Medica

      Health Partners

      Preferred One

BlueCross BlueShield Insta-Care

Options: Deductibles of $300 and $500  (and now $1,000) available.
               30, 60, or 90 day policies available.
Contact: 651-662-5050 or 1-800-262-0823 or click here.

ehealth insurance (comparisons)

Assurant Health (formerly) Fortis Short Term Health Insurance Plan

Options: Deductibles $250, $500, and $1000.
               Policies can be written between 30 to 185 days
Contact: 1-800-211-6906 or contact insurance agents you know or click here.

St. Mary’s Health Clinics
(A program to address unmet health needs of people in St. Paul/Minneapolis)

Eligibility: must be without health insurance; must meet income guidelines
                  can’t be receiving assistance from any government subsidy programs
                        such as Medicare, Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare;
                   no income guidelines. For Mpls. and St. Paul and 11 county metro area. 
Coverage: Basic primary and preventive health care services; prenatal,
                        mental health, and dental services are not available and
                        emergency trauma or critical care cannot be provided.
Premium:  Free
Contact:   651-690-7029 for information or appointments.

PorticoHealthNet (formerly MetroEast) (A program to make health care affordable for people without insurance)

Eligibility: Must meet all of the following criteria:
                    - Live in Ramsey, Washington or Dakota countries;
                    - Not currently insured;
                    - Not already eligible for Medicare, Medical Assistance, or
                        General Assistance Medical Care;
                    - Must have an annual household income that does not exceed
                         $23,623 for a single person or
                         $48,538 for a family of four (call for additional income requirements)
Premium: Participants pay a monthly fee of $25 per household.
Contact:   651-603-5100

Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association
(A program to assist people who are denied insurance due to health reasons.)

Eligibility: Minnesota resident for six months immediately preceding your application &
                   must provide evidence that within six months prior to application, a Minnesota
                   insurer or HMO has denied the applicant individual health insurance due to a
                   pre-existing condition.  NOTE: These eligibility requirements are meant to
                   serve as general information only. Other conditions or circumstances may
                   also qualify you for MCHA coverage. Please call for complete eligibility
                   criteria.
Options:    Qualified Plan 1 ($1,000 deductible) and Qualified Plan 2 ($500 deductible).
Premium:  Based on gender and age.  Call for most current rates.
Contact:    Customer Service Department at 651-662-5290 or click here.

MinnesotaCare
(An alternative for low income people who would not otherwise have access to health care insurance.)

Eligibility: To quality you must:
                  - have a Social Security number and be a Minnesota resident;
                  - not have other health insurance now (includes Medicare Part A or
                    eligible to get Medicare Part A at no cost) and have not had
                    health insurance for the last four months;
                  - not have current access to employer-based health insurance,
                    in which your employer pays 50% or more, and your employer
                    has not dropped employer paid insurance in the last 18 months;
                  - be able to meet income guidelines.
Coverage: There are two benefit sets.
                   Contact MinnesotaCare for coverage information.
Premium:   Based on family size and income.
Contact:     651-297-3862 or if you live outside the metro area, call 1-800-657-3672
                       or click here.  

Prescription Drug Program (A program which helps Minnesota seniors 65 and over pay for prescription drugs. Formerly the Senior Drug Program.)

Eligibility: Please call for eligibility information.
Premium:  If you quality, you pay the first $35 of your prescription drug costs
                  each month and the Prescription Drug Program pays the rest.  Includes

                  referrals to other services.
Contact:    Call Senior LinkAge Line at 1-800-333-2433 for general information.
                  Contact your county human service agency to apply.

General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC)
(A program funded by the State of Minnesota for people not eligible for Medical Assistance

Eligibility: Eligibility is based on income.
Premium:  Free if you are eligible and continue to meet the eligibility requirements.
Contact:    The county office of the county in which you live.  Each county has a
                    different application process.  For general information, call 651-296-7675
                    or 1-800-657-3739 or click here.

For More Information:

Call or e-mail the Minnesota Department of Health and ask for the following free booklets:

Guide to Purchasing Health Insurance - provides tips and options.
Guide to MN Public Healthcare Programs - Medical Assistance, General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) and MinnesotaCare.
Guide to Additional Healthcare Resources - free or reduced cost health care/dental services, children, general information.
How to Continue Your Healthcare Coverage - COBRA, costs, how to sign up alternative, loss of coverage.

www.mnsage.com clinics that offer free breast and cervical cancer screening to uninsured or underinsured women who meet income guidelines

RXOutreach.com low cost pay for medicine (requires income eligibility)

Call 651-282-6341 or 1-800-657-3793  OR e-mail: clearinghouse@health.state.mn.us

Public Health Services (Services vary from county to county.)

Low Cost Clinics

(Based on material by Workforce Solutions: Dislocated Worker Program, 1/02)

Dental Services

University of Minnesota Dental Clinic - Dental care for adults and children. Fees
are generally lower than private dentists.  Services are provided by dental school students under the supervision of staff.  Call 612-624-8400 for information; 612-625-4908 for dental emergencies. For more information, click here.

MN Low Cost Health Care Resource Directory  Children's' Defense Fund Minnesota low cost providers by County