Clock ticking for late MNsure enrollees

Consumers who completed special forms to meet the federal health care law's enrollment deadline need to select a plan and pay soon.

Officials with Minnesota's online health insurance marketplace say anyone who completed a MNsure health insurance enrollment attempt form in the last days of March have only about a week to select a plan.

The deadline to enroll in commercial health coverage is 11:59 p.m. April 22. Those who enroll also must pay their first month's premium by April 30.

Consumers who fail to meet those deadlines may not only be penalized for lacking health insurance, but also won't be able to enroll in coverage in the individual market through MNsure or directly through an insurer until mid-November.

Exceptions apply to people undergoing a "life event" such as a marriage, divorce, job loss or birth of a child.

People eligible for government-sponsored coverage such as Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare can still enroll.