MNsure Lowers Enrollment Projection by a Third

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Officials say Minnesota's health insurance exchange is cutting its enrollment projection for next year by one-third, but will still have a balanced budget.

Chief executive Scott Leitz says MNsure previously projected about 100,000 enrollees in private health plans by the end of 2015, but has reduced that to about 67,000. Currently, about 50,000 people have obtained commercial coverage through MNsure.

PreferredOne, which provided the majority of commercial policies sold through the exchange in 2014, won't be an option on MNsure next year. Leitz says that's one reason for the lower enrollment projection, although the projection for new enrollees also is reduced.

The Star Tribune reports Leitz says next year, MNsure will cut expenses by about $2 million by spending less on information technology fixes and the exchange call center.