New Minnesota plan targets the older uninsured

Medica Encore is the latest in a flurry of attempts by Minnesota insurers to tailor niche products to smaller segments of the market. It's also the first plan to target 50- to 64-year-old early retirees who don't yet qualify for Medicare—most niche products up to this point had been aimed at young adults. Medica estimates that there are 30,000 to 40,000 older Minnesotans who are uninsured because they retired early, were laid off, or work for employers who don't offer group coverage.