Minnesota Department of Commerce

Department of Health warns Minnesotans about COVID-19 contact tracing text scam

ST. PAUL, Minn.–The Minnesota Department of Commerce and Minnesota Department of Health are warning the public about text scams related to COVID-19 contact tracing. Contact tracing is used to slow the spread of the virus by contacting infected individuals to determine who may have been exposed. Those individuals are then contacted and told to watch for symptoms and self-isolate. Officials…

Minnesota’s Energy Assistance Program Offers Help to Minnesotans Struggling to Pay Energy Bills

New applicants have until July 1 to apply.

SAINT PAUL, Minn.–The Minnesota Department of Commerce’s Energy Assistance Program is available to help Minnesotans struggling to pay energy bills. The department encourages the newly unemployed, households with young children, people with disabilities, veterans and seniors to apply for the program. The Energy Assistance Program helps low-income homeowners and renters by paying grant money directly to utility companies or heating…

MNsure Rates to Hold Steady in 2020, Show Market Stability

State Commerce Commissioner Steve Kelley says the rate changes show Minnesota's individual health insurance market has stabilized.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesotans who buy health plans through the state-run health insurance exchange or directly from health insurers will see average premiums hold steady or decline next year. The Minnesota Department of Commerce also released data Tuesday that shows most people covered through a small business health plan will see average premium increases of 2% to 4%. State…

Minnesota Commerce Department Warns Against Nationwide Robocall Scheme

The Commerce Department says phone scammers often use fear tactics to extract money and personal information from victims.

St. Paul, MN–The Minnesota Department of Commerce urges consumers to take precautions against potential robocall scams. The Commerce Department says advances in technology allow scammers to utilize auto-dialers to reach thousands of phones every minutes for a low cost, causing a nation-wide influx of robocalls. Last year, the star tribune reported that Minnesotans receive an average of eight “machine-made” calls…