Republicans propose personal accounts for health insurance

Republican legislative leaders announced a proposal to allow people to open personal health premium accounts that would help them purchase health insurance on the free market. Sen. David Hann, R-Eden Prairie, and Rep. Steve Gottwalt, R-St. Cloud, said their plan is aimed at helping people afford health insurance costs outside of the health insurance exchanges that are included under the federal Affordable Care Act, which Hann and Gottwalt oppose. Hann and Gottwalt chair health care committees in the two houses and said their plan has strong support among Republicans who control the Legislature.