Senators in Minn. approve health insurance exchange

ST. PAUL – Minnesotans should be able to buy health insurance online later this year, with legislators only still needing to wrap up the details.

Senators debated 12 hours, ending late Thursday with what is believed to be a single-bill debate record, before approving 37-28 the Minnesota Insurance Marketplace. The bill establishing a Web-based system to buy health insurance and a similar one the House passed Monday night will head to a conference committee where lawmakers will merge the versions into one that Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton likely will sign.

Support for the Senate measure, like in the House, mostly split along party lines with Democrats backing the bill written by Sen. Tony Lourey, DFL-Kerrick.

Federal law requires the marketplace to be running by Oct. 1, with insurance policies starting Jan. 1.

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