Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association (MCHA)
Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association (MCHA)
Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association
Customer Service, Mail Route CP555
401 Carlson Parkway
Minnetonka, MN 55305-5387
For deductible plan options call 1.866.894.8053
or our TTY line at 1.800.841.6753
For Medicare Supplement plan options call 1.800.325.3540
or our TTY line at 1.800.234.8819
MCHA is the Minnesota state high-risk pool. This program allows individual health insurance policies to be sold to people who might otherwise be considered “uninsurable” because of a chronic illness. Premiums may be high, and a pre-existing condition period may apply. Contact MCHA for more information.
MCHA was established in 1976 by the Minnesota Legislature to offer policies of individual health insurance to Minnesota residents who have been turned down for health insurance by the private market, due to pre-existing health conditions. MCHA is sometimes referred to as Minnesota’s “high risk pool” for health insurance or health insurance of last resort. Currently, about 30,000 Minnesota residents are insured by MCHA throughout the State of Minnesota.
MCHA is a non-profit Minnesota corporation, organized under Chapter 317 of Minnesota law. MCHA is not a State agency. It is regulated by the Minnesota Department of Commerce. An eleven-member board of directors provides policy direction to MCHA. An executive staff manages the administration of the risk pool. Since its first year of operation in 1977, MCHA has contracted with an outside organization to perform day-to-day operations of the plan.
MCHA IS NOT MINNESOTACARE!
Premiums charged to policyholders are generally higher than rates for comparable policies in the marketplace By law, MCHA premiums must be set between 101% - 125% of the weighted average for comparable policies.
WHO NEEDS MCHA INSURANCE?
Minnesotans who have been turned down for individual health insurance in the private market due to pre-existing conditions.
Circumstances include:
* Individuals who exhaust COBRA benefits.
* Individuals working for employers who do not offer health insurance.
* Individuals who have exceeded lifetime maximum limits, or their previous coverage.
* Former employees of bankrupt companies.
