Democrats seek to add self-employed to MinnesotaCare

House Democrats rolled out a proposal Monday that would allow small businesses and self-employed people to buy into the state employee health plan and the MinnesotaCare program.

Employees of small businesses make up a growing share of the uninsured in Minnesota.

Letting small employers use state programs would reduce costs for businesses and premiums for families because the state can negotiate lower prices, said Rep. Tom Huntley, DFL-Duluth. Lower costs could translate into more people with health insurance.

"This is a way we can get many more Minnesotans covered without costing the state any money at all," Huntley said.