Wikipedia
MinnesotaCare is a health coverage program in the U.S. state of Minnesota for low-income individuals and families who do not have access to employee-sponsored health insurance. It is administered by the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Enrollees pay a monthly fee based on income and family size, among other factors. According to the Minnesota House of Representatives, 121,731 individuals were enrolled in MinnesotaCare as of November 2006.
MinnesotaCare coverage includes "doctor visits, hospitalization, prescriptions, eye exams, eye glasses, dental care" and other services. Services are provided through prepaid health plans, who negotiate reimbursement rates with health care providers. In fiscal year 2006, the MinnesotaCare program paid $438 million for medical services provided to enrollees. Thirty-five percent of the cost was paid for by the federal government, 8 percent by premiums paid by enrollees, and the remainder by the state.