The "trained service representative" answered my call to MNsure's new customer contact center within seconds.
It was 8:24 a.m. on Tuesday, and as it turns out, I was one of the first consumers to ask questions about how the Affordable Care Act (or as I like to call it, Romneycare) will roll out.
My trained service representative (TSR) was polite, almost chipper. I had two questions.
"I know you can't deny someone medical insurance due to pre-existing conditions, but can you charge me more if I have them? Will my costs be a lot higher if I have, say, diabetes?"
"No," said the woman. "Nope. Your coverage will be the same, no matter what."
She went on to explain that I'd be able to choose from several levels of coverage, and would be able to decide whether I wanted higher premiums and higher or lower deductibles. But the system won't penalize people who are already sick.
OK. So far, so good.
My second question was about an article I'd read about UPS dropping spouses of workers from health insurance policies, if they could get them elsewhere.