What is the California Individual Health Coverage Mandate, and how do HRAs help?

California requires residents to maintain minimum essential health coverage or potentially face a state tax penalty. HRAs such as ICHRA and QSEHRA help by giving employees tax-advantaged dollars to buy their own qualifying individual plans.

What is the difference between a QSEHRA and an ICHRA for my California business?

QSEHRA is for employers with fewer than 50 full-time employees and includes annual IRS contribution limits. ICHRA is available to employers of any size, has no contribution cap, and supports different reimbursement amounts for employee classes.

Are there specific reporting requirements for California employers who use an HRA?

Yes. California employers offering HRA-supported coverage have state reporting obligations, including annual employee statements and coverage detail reporting timelines.

Can I offer an HRA to part-time or seasonal workers in California?

Yes. Under QSEHRA, employers may include part-time and seasonal workers at their discretion, while ICHRA allows class-based design so part-time groups can receive different reimbursement levels.

Is an HRA more cost-effective than traditional group insurance in CA?

In many California markets, individual premiums are competitive with or lower than small group rates. HRAs also improve budget predictability because employers set fixed contribution amounts rather than absorbing variable group renewals.

Minnesota HRAs

Minnesota employers: Save up to 31% on health insurance¹

From The Cities to The Iron Range, affordable health insurance in Minnesota starts with a Take Command HRA

Employees have great options in Minnesota

With an HRA, employees select their plan from the Minnesota health insurance marketplace, and they get to choose from popular health insurance carriers who are known for affordable rates and a positive experience.

Skip costly group plans

Private Minnesota health insurance is expensive for employers, and it forces employees to choose from only one or two health benefits plans.

Set your own budget

With a Minnesota HRA from Take Command, employers control their costs and have 100% budget predictability for their health insurance line item.

Give employees choice

An HRA lets employees take control of their insurance by purchasing their preferred health plan from MNsure, the state health insurance marketplace.

A Minnesota HRA is up to 31% less expensive than small group health insurance

The prices below are 2025 average rates for a 50-year-old on a bronze plan.

Marshall County

Small group insurance: $554.55
Individual health plan: $453.54

Hennepin County

Small group insurance: $478.03
Individual health plan: $371.06

Dakota County

Small group insurance: $507.89
Individual health plan: $371.06

Look at health plan costs for your county

Explore Minnesota Health Plans

Browse ACA plans by county to see coverage options, carriers, and pricing your employees can choose from.

Search Available Health Plans →

HRAs have many advantages over traditional group health coverage

What is an HRA?

A Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) is a tax-advantaged health benefits solution where employers give a monthly allowance to employees for qualified medical expenses and insurance premiums. The employer sets the budget, and the employees buy healthcare plans from the ACA or state marketplace.

On the horizon for The Land of 10,000 Lakes

Minnesota has been one of the leading ICHRA markets in the country for years, and that is expected to continue, making ICHRA valuable for employers. Take Command also has strong relationships with MN insurance carriers, which leads to a good experience for employees.

MN health insurance updates impacting employees

Simplified enrollment: MNsure has recently updated its systems to better support employees using HRAs, making the transition from a group plan to choice-based coverage seamless.
Insurance carrier competition: Leading Minnesota carriers are expanding their individual plan portfolios, giving employees more options than a single group plan.

Minnesota health insurance brokers

If you’re a health insurance broker with clients in Minnesota, you could be providing them significant savings with a Take Command HRA.

Explore ICHRA for brokers

1 https://ideonapi.com/ideon-ichra-insights-by-state

Frequently asked questions about Minnesota HRAs

Is MNsure compatible with an HRA?

Yes. MNsure has recently enhanced its infrastructure to better support HRA-integrated enrollments. The state marketplace now offers specialized tools and affordability worksheets designed to help employees quickly determine how to apply their employer’s tax-free HRA contributions toward a private plan. This makes for a smooth transition from a traditional group plan to an HRA for human resources teams.

How do new Minnesota state-mandated benefits impact HRA costs?

Recent legislation (such as HF 5247) has expanded required coverage for services like mental health and infertility treatments.² In a traditional small group plan, these mandates often trigger immediate premium hikes for the employer. With an HRA, the responsibility for these mandates sits with the insurance carriers on the individual market. Employers continue to provide a fixed monthly allowance, while employees gain access to these newly protected state benefits through the plans they select.

2 https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/93/2024/0/HF/5247/

Can my employees pair a Minnesota HRA with an HSA?

Yes. There is a growing trend among Minnesota carriers—including Blue Cross, HealthPartners, and UCare—to offer more HSA-qualified Bronze and Silver plans on the individual market. By using a Take Command HRA, your employees can choose an HSA-compatible plan, allowing them to pair your tax-free reimbursement with the long-term tax advantages of a Health Savings Account.

Affordable health insurance for Minnesota’s top industries: healthcare, manufacturing, retail

Health organizations can save costs with HRAs

Healthcare

Staff burnout and rising operational costs make it hard to run a healthcare practice. Take Command takes care of your budget and your clinicians.

HRAs for Minnesota healthcare

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Manufacturing

High healthcare claims are often associated with the physical demand of manufacturing jobs. ICHRA offers meaningful benefits at a reasonable cost.

HRAs for Minnesota manufacturers

Retail

Retail health insurance costs are increasing each year, but HRAs provide affordable coverage for diverse workforces with full-time, part-time, and seasonal staff.

HRAs for Minnesota retailers

CONNECT WITH US

Contact Take Command to learn about Minnesota HRAs

We’re here to help and can answer questions about health insurance quotes for your county.

Minnesota employers: Save up to 31% on health insurance¹

Control your health benefits budget down to the penny.

Spend less on health insurance plans for your employees.

Let employees choose the MNsure plan that’s right for them.