Minnesota

Rural Minnesotans struggling to find, pay for health care

Published

2 years ago

May 9, 2024

Rural Minnesotans struggling to find, pay for health care

BIRD ISLAND, Minn. — There is a special bond among farmers in Minnesota, but that’s not the same business partnership that would help create a group health insurance policy.

Instead, farmers like Calvin Aarons and his wife have to buy individual policies on the open market, and Aarons said the experience recently has been increasingly frustrating and costly. Specifically, he says, there doesn’t seem to be rhyme or reason about what’s in network versus out of network.

“If they’re going to come out here and own the hospital, then you should go to a doctor that’s in network. Why do you want to send your business somewhere else?” Aarons lamented to WCCO. “You figure it’s all HealthPartners. The doctor said you’re all HealthPartners, until you get the bill and it says ‘out of network.’”

According to Aarons, his wife went to see a specialist at the Olivia Hospital and Clinic, which is run by HealthPartners. The specialist then referred Aarons’ wife to another physician at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, which is also HealthPartners, for a more complicated procedure.

The bill for the procedure cost nearly $20,000 because it was considered “out of network” for their health insurance plan, Medica Applause.

“Why aren’t we in network when we come to the Mothership?” Aarons quipped, referring to Methodist Hospital. “It’s major money.”

Aarons isn’t alone; insurance agents WCCO spoke with warn access and affordability are major problems.

“The best adjective is complete chaos,” Tom Gruhlke, a longtime insurance agent for the Farm Bureau, explained to WCCO. “It was the advent of the Affordable Care Act that created all of this chaos, and to some degree nonsense, in the individual market.”

Specifically, Gruhlke said, costs became too high for insurance companies to grant open access to individuals, so they began to impose more restrictions on coverage.

Hospitals, moreover, chose not to enter contracts for certain insurance plans if the reimbursements weren’t financially viable.

“These insurance plans now are being negotiated all the time, whether to be in or out of network,” Gruhlke added.

In a statement to WCCO News, a HealthPartners spokesperson said, “We understand how complex it can be to do determine whether care is in-network. Because of that, we partner with patients to help them understand their options.”

Medica also sent a statement to WCCO News, saying: “Contracts between hospitals and insurance companies are based on several factors, which can make them seem complicated. We can’t get into specifics on negotiations because that information is proprietary. Generally, contracts may be renewed every one to three years. It is notable that Medica Applause offers a very broad network that includes access to Mayo, Allina, M Health Fairview, North Memorial and many other metro facilities that offer the full range of acute and specialty care to members from across the state of MN.”

Still, all of those options are a far trip for Aarons, which is why he also cautioned this might be just a symptom of the bigger issue: the rural versus urban divide.

“Fifty years ago, 40 years ago, grandpa was on the farm,” he said. “Now it’s another generation away from grandpa. A few more years, it’ll be great grandpa. Then it’s all history.”

Jonah Kaplan

Jonah Kaplan is WCCO and CBS News Minnesota’s investigative reporter and has built a strong reputation for his balanced and in-depth coverage of high-impact issues including the economy, immigration, education, public safety, and the military, among others.

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Minnesota

Iran conflict: 250 Minnesota National Guard member serving in Middle East

Published

3 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Iran conflict: 250 Minnesota National Guard member serving in Middle East

(FOX 9) – The Minnesota National Guard tells FOX 9 there are currently 250 guard members on regularly scheduled deployment at the United States Central Command areas of responsibility as the United States leads strikes in Iran.

Guardsman in Middle East

What we know:

The Minnesota National Guard says the deployed airmen and soldiers are serving from Duluth’s 148th Fighter Wing, the Marshall-based 1-151 Artillery, and the Stillwater-based 34th Military Police Company.

What they’re saying:

“While their missions and duty locations vary, all are grateful for the strong support of those back home,” writes Army Maj. Andrea Tsuchiya, State Public Affairs Officer for the Minnesota National Guard.

What we don’t know:

The guard did not disclose the exact bases or countries where the soldiers and airmen are serving.

CENTCOM covers 21 countries including: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Yemen.

Pres. Trump says Iran operations likely to last 4 to 5 weeks

Big picture view:

In his first public remarks since the launch of the attack on Iran, President Trump said he expected operations to last four to five weeks, but he was prepared “to go far longer than that.”

The president also laid out his objective for the mission: to destroy Iran’s missile capabilities, to “annihilate” their navy, to ensure the country doesn’t obtain a nuclear weapon and that the regime “cannot continue to arm, fund and direct terrorist armies outside of their borders.”

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Minnesota

U.S.-Israeli strikes spark dueling rallies in Twin Cities

Published

15 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

U.S.-Israeli strikes spark dueling rallies in Twin Cities

Iranians in Minnesota react to Khamenei death

Iranians in the Twin Cities gathered in downtown Minneapolis on Sunday to celebrate major developments in the Middle East following the death of Supreme Leader Khamenei. While many Iranian-Americans expressed hope for regime change, anti-war protesters also took to the streets to condemn the military strikes, with some members of Minnesota’s DFL delegation calling the operation “unlawful” and “illegal.”

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Iranians in the Twin Cities gathered in downtown Minneapolis Sunday to celebrate major developments in the Middle East. Anti-war protesters also took the streets of Minneapolis Saturday.

Plus, Jewish communities say they are on high alert over concerns of potential retaliatory acts in major cities across the U.S.

‘Massive moment’

What we know:

Following a joint U.S. and Israeli military operation in Iran, Khamenei was killed in an attack, Iranian state media confirmed early Sunday.

What they’re saying:

Iranian community groups rallied at Nicollet Mall and 11th Street on Sunday to express hope for regime change.

Dozens of Iranian-Americans said they are celebrating the news.

“We are here to support Iranian people. Today, everybody is happy, very happy,” said Beheshteh Zargaran, an Iranian-American.

“Killed Khamenei, which was the supreme leader, and hopefully they will continue this action and help Iranians finally topple the Islamic regime,” said Faraz Samavat, an Iranian-American.

“That means a lot. We are fighting for almost half a century to destroy this cruel regime against people of Iran,” said Ali Mohammad, an Iranian-American.

Iranians in MN celebrate strikes by Pres. Trump

Iranians in the Twin Cities are gathering in downtown Minneapolis to celebrate major developments in the Middle East following a joint U.S. and Israeli military operation. Community groups rallied at Nicollet Mall and 11th Street to express hope for regime change after news that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, was killed in Saturday’s airstrikes.

The other side:

Protesters also took to the streets in the Twin Cities over the weekend condemning the strikes.

Some people are criticizing the military operation including members of Minnesota’s DFL delegation. Congresswoman Betty McCollum called the strikes “unlawful” and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar called the war “illegal and unjustified.”

Heightened security:

Jewish communities in Minnesota say they are also on high alert following security guidance across the country to prevent potential retaliatory violence.

“A heightened sense of vigilance making sure that everybody is aware of their surroundings and that all of the protective measures are in place,” said Steve Hunegs, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas.

There are currently no known specific threats against local Jewish communities.

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Minnesota

Here’s how much snow parts of Minnesota got on Saturday, Feb. 28

Published

1 day ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Here’s how much snow parts of Minnesota got on Saturday, Feb. 28

article

Storm reports in from Minnesota on Saturday, Feb. 28.

LANESBORO, Minn. (FOX 9) – Impressive snow totals were reported in parts of Minnesota after a narrow band of heavy snowfall worked its way across the state.