SF 2541 expands the income eligibility limit for the MinnesotaCare program to 275 percent of FPG and requires the Commissioner of Human Services to seek all necessary federal waivers.

Section 1 (256L.02) requires the Commissioner of Human Services to apply for a section 1332 waiver under the Affordable Care Act to allow Minnesota to expand MinnesotaCare as a basic health plan to include individuals with income up to 275 percent of FPG; modify the MinnesotaCare premiums and cost-sharing; and allow Minnesota to receive the advanced premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions that these individuals would have otherwise received if they obtained qualified health plan coverage through MNsure.  This section also requires the commissioner to apply for a section 1115 federal waiver to receive a federal match for services provided to all MinnesotaCare enrollees.

Section 2 (256L.03, subd. 5) requires the commissioner to increase cost-sharing for covered services for enrollees with income greater than 200 percent, but not exceeding 250 percent so that the actuarial value for the MinnesotaCare benefit is 87 percent and for enrollees with income greater than 250 percent, but not exceeding 275 percent the actuarial value of the benefit is 80 percent.

Sections 3, 4, and 5 (256L.04 and 256L.07) increase the income eligibility limit for MinnesotaCare from 200 percent to 275 percent for families with children and single adults without children.

Section 6 (256L.25, subd. 2) requires the commissioner to extend the premium scale for MinnesotaCare to include individuals with incomes greater than 200 percent, but not exceeding 275 percent of FPG so that the individuals with income at 201 percent of FPG shall pay 4.09 percent of income, individuals with income at 251 percent of FPG shall pay 7.26 percent of income, and individuals with income at 275 percent of FPG shall pay 8.83 percent of income.  Requires the commissioner to set other premium amounts in a proportional manner using evenly spaced income steps.