Brian Hensley is chairman of the Freeborn County Republican Party and local financial adviser with Intego Financial Group.  Brian also serves on the city of Albert Lea Parks and Recreation Board. All opinions are his and do not necessarily reflect those of the organizations he is associated with.

Hold on to your wallet.  For some, this year’s health insurance renewal process isn’t going to be very fun, very easy or leave any money in your wallet.

According to the Star Tribune article dated Oct. 1, “Health insurers are hiking premiums and limiting enrollment in Minnesota’s individual market next year, with regulators saying the emergency measures were needed to avert a market collapse. The moves are a clear sign that the market for some 250,000 people who buy coverage for themselves is dysfunctional and needs reform, said Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman during a Friday news conference.”

But wait a minute — I remember this press release from Take Action MN released on March 20, 2013. “The new MNsure health care marketplace will ensure that health insurance plans will compete for consumer business in an open and transparent way by allowing consumers to select the plan that meets their budget and health care needs. MNsure will bring much needed security and financial peace of mind to hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans struggling to get the health care they need when they need it.

“For the first time ever, Minnesota health care consumers are on a level playing field with health insurance companies. This exchange means that individuals, as well as the employees and owners of small businesses, will have the same buying power and control over their health plans as big businesses.”

I also remember this quote from Gov. Dayton during a debate with Jeff Johnson when asked about MNsure. “Calling it (MNsure) his biggest single disappointment so far, Dayton said, “It’s got better, and it will continue to get better, but it still has a ways to go.”

This program is a failure.

This program has repeatedly shown an inability to provide more coverage to more people at a better price.

Governor Dayton’s own appointee from 2011, Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman, said at a press conference on Friday, “These rising insurance rates are unsustainable and unfair,” Rothman said. “Middle-class Minnesotans, in particular, are being crushed by the heavy burden of shouldering these costs.”

He followed that with, “The rate increases are higher than anyone would like,” he said. “The options will be more limited than anyone would like. However, there are options — when two or three months ago, it looked like we wouldn’t have any options at all.”

Higher costs. 

Fewer options.

I don’t remember those facts being what we were told with Obamacare or MNsure.

June 6, 2009, President Obama’s weekly radio address, “If you like the plan you have, you can keep it. If you like the doctor you have, you can keep your doctor, too.  The only change you’ll see are falling costs as our reforms take hold.”

But what can you do? Here are a few options: 

Demand that Senator Sparks, and other DFL candidates (locally, Gary Schindler) accept responsibility for a failed attempt by government to takeover your health care.  Seek out candidates who don’t support the government being between your doctor and you.

Demand that Minnesotans be allowed to purchase insurance using the federal exchange and demand that Minnesotans gain access to tax credits when buying outside MNsure. 

Demand that Rep. Walz visit his district and hold listening sessions on health care in his Congressional district to hear from you.

Demand children who qualify for Medical Assistance be allowed to enroll in MinnesotaCare with their parents.

Demand any person qualified for Medical Assistance be allowed to enroll in MinnesotaCare or an individual plan if they choose.

Demand that all medical services including hospital, doctors, labs and urgent care centers be transparent in the cost of their services before they are “ordered” or administered. Allow individuals to become involved in determining what services they have done and the costs of those services.  As people’s deductibles have risen, they have a right to know the costs of those services.

If you do nothing, these programs will continue to waste taxpayer’s money. Worse than that, our access to, and quality of our healthcare will continue to decline.  Neither are acceptable.