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Mshale - The African Community Newspaper
www.mshale.com
February 1-8, 2021 Issue 455
Minnesota COVID-19 vaccination pilot program to use lottery system By Mshale Staff
Minnesota’s COVID-19 vaccine pilot program that started last week for seniors (65 and older) is moving to a lottery system starting last week (Tuesday, Jan. 26). Governor Tim Walz announced the changes in statement to the media. The statement said the updated process “accounts for anticipated high demand for appointments online and at the call center and allows for more equitable and orderly access to appointments by eliminating the first come, first served system.” Last week, the website the state set up to take appointments for the pilot program crashed due to high traffic. Minnesotans age 65 and older will now have a 24-hour window of time beginning at 5:00 am Tuesday to pre-register for a randomized opportunity to get an appointment. The statement went on to say “Signing up for the pre-registration list means you will have a chance to be randomly selected, so you do not have to register right away: it is not a first come, first serve system.” The governor’s office is strongly encouraging pre-registering online at mn.gov/findmyvaccine. The website will be open for pre-registering from 5:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 26 until 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 27. If unable to register online, one can call 833-431-2053 to sign up. The call center will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 26. If you are randomly selected for a vaccine you will be notified via text message, email or phone to finalize your appointment. About 8,000 appointments will be available this week.
African Community COVID Hotline
Call 763-307-4731
MNsure opens up three-month special enrollment following Biden executive order Following President Biden’s executive order on Jan. 28 to reopen Healthcare.gov for a special enrollment period, MNsure, Minnesota’s state-run health insurance exchange said Wednesday it will also open enrollment starting Feb. 16 through May 17. Biden’s executive order cited provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, that governs the marketplaces allows for a special enrollment due to “exceptional circumstances,” in this case, the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement to the media, MNsure CEO Nate Clark said “COVID-19 is still with us, so having access to comprehensive health care coverage is critical at
this time.” The special enrollment period could be particularly useful to those who might have just lost their jobs after the enrollment period ended. It should be noted however that individuals and families can sign up anytime for coverage through MNsure without the need for a special enrollment period if they have what is defined as a “qualifying life event.” You can visit this MNsure page to see what such a qualifying event is.
