MN exchange sees stronger enrollment

Enrollment in Minnesota's insurance marketplace is accelerating, with approximately 10,940 residents signing up for insurance benefits through MNsure in the site's first month. Officials are still hoping to complete a total of 975,000 applications in the exchange's first year. 

The Star Tribune reported in mid-October only 12,000 residents had opened accounts on the site, but that number doubled to 28,000 by the beginning of November. Although MNsure is seeing progress, registration in the exchange may not be increasing fast enough. However, many of officials are optimistic about MNsure's success. 

"I feel very confident, given the norms in open enrollment where we are one month into a six-month process," Brian Beutner, a member of MNsure's board of directors, said after a recent meeting.

According to The Associated Press and CBS-affiliate WCCO, there are still approximately 4,328 people who need to decide on an insurer but have finished the application process. Despite this number being high, the sources reported the nearly 11,000 people who have already signed up did so on group plans, bringing the total Minnesotans benefiting from exchange-offered plans to approximately 31,447. 

Officials also estimate enrollment will continue to accelerate as the December deadline draws near.