UnitedHealth Group Inc.'s data services subsidiary Optum, which came to the rescue of the federal health insurance exchange in November, is now stepping in to help resolve continuing problems with MNsure.
About 15 Optum staffers arrived Wednesday morning at MNsure, the state's insurance exchange, for a two-day assessment of the agency's website and call center operations. Their goal: to help officials pinpoint how and why some consumers are getting hung up in the system, which is expected to eventually help more than 1 million Minnesotans choose and pay for health coverage.
"We are pleased to have the opportunity to assist the state of Minnesota in a brief, initial assessment of the issues facing MNsure," Optum spokesman Brian Kane said.
Optum is not charging the state for the review, but might be hired for additional work, officials said. The Eden Prairie-based company also has worked with the Maryland exchange, whose system is similar to Minnesota's and is using the same set of vendors.
Optum is expected to deliver its findings next week.
Results can't come soon enough, as officials rush to get the website more fully functional for an expected spike at the end of this year's open enrollment period, which is March 31. But several deadlines before then also will create pressure for MNsure.
Consumers have until the end of business this Friday to have a payment either to MNsure or the health insurer for retroactive coverage that began Jan. 1. Those who want coverage beginning in February face a Jan. 15 deadline to use the website to enroll in a plan and pay the premium.
Scott Leitz, MNsure interim CEO, told members of the board of directors that he also will address continuing problems with the system by hiring more call center operators and adding resources so the state can accept more paper applications for those who can't get through the online site.