Thousands Waiting for Health Insurance Due to MNSure Backlog

More than 3,700 people in Minnesota are waiting for their health insurance to take effect. They purchased private health insurance through the state health exchange known as MNsure. The enrollment period for health insurance ended in April, but people can change or add to their plans if they qualify for 'Life Events.'

The backlog of 'life event' cases is delaying the process.

'Is it acceptable that we have as many life event cases outstanding as we do right now? No,' said MNsure spokesperson Jenni Bowring-McDonough.

MNsure installed new software this month to help expedite the process. The state closes roughly 100 cases a day.

A mother in Minneapolis waited four months for MNsure to add her newborn son to the family's insurance plan.

'I'm not sure where it went wrong in adding him, but I just want to get him insured so we can pay our bills,' Elisabeth Emmerich said.

MNsure added her son Maxwell to the plan Thursday after 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS asked about the delay.