ST. PAUL — Minnesotans have until noon today to sign up for coverage effective Thursday through the state’s health insurance exchange. 

MNsure officials have pushed back that deadline several times in recent weeks to give consumers more time to pick a plan.

Open enrollment lasts through Feb. 15. Lower-income Minnesotans eligible for the public MinnesotaCare and Medical Assistance programs can enroll year-round.

As of Friday, roughly 59,000 Minnesotans had signed up for coverage through MNsure since open enrollment began Nov. 15. That includes more than 26,000 private plan signups.

Some people who sign up before the deadline may not get insurance cards by the new year. The Minnesota Council of Health Plans said those consumers should contact their insurance companies for help.