More Minnesotans went without health insurance in 2025 than at any point in the last six years — and among those who still had coverage, concerns were growing about costs.
By the numbers: Minnesota's uninsured rate spiked to 5.8% last year, according to results of a long-running state survey released this week.
An estimated 116,000 more Minnesotans were uninsured in 2025 than in 2023, the most recent year of comparison data.
Driving the trend: The share of Minnesotans covered by public programs like Medicare and Medicaid dropped 4.5 percentage points from 2023 to 2025 — from 44.1% to 39.6%.
Employer coverage only partially offset that loss, with the coverage share ticking up just 2.1 percentage points.
Catch up quick: Fewer Minnesotans signed up for plans through the state's individual health insurance market this year as out-of-pocket premiums rise.
Among survey respondents with health insurance, 28.8% reported fears that rising costs might price them out.