Minnesota Ready for Deadline on Health Marketplace

ST. PAUL  (AP) - Minnesota is ahead of many other states facing a federal deadline to declare whether they will set up a health care marketplace to help people and small businesses get private insurance.

Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton began pushing to develop a state-tailored health insurance exchange shortly after taking office in early 2011.

The state has received more than $70 million in federal grants, and much of Minnesota's progress report is online for consumers to see.

Thursday evening, the Obama administration responded to a request for more time from Republican governors by granting states a month's extension, until Dec. 14.

The Minnesota Legislature is expected to make major decisions early next year, including how to pay for the exchange after federal money goes away and who will run it.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved)