As the federal government shutdown drags on, Minnesotans are bracing for rising health care and food costs this winter. Premiums on the state’s ACA marketplace are projected to increase an average of 21.5% in 2026, while federal subsidies that have helped keep coverage affordable for lower-income households are set to expire at year’s end.
Community health and social service organizations across St. Paul are already feeling the strain. From food shelves to prevention clinics, staff report increased demand as federal support falters.
Open Cities Health Center is one such local provider. Sydney Malone, a community health worker, said her team is helping residents navigate both health care and food insecurity.
“We’ve absolutely seen an uptick in people being interested in receiving our food resources,” Malone said. “As a community health worker, I provide patients with general resources that can assist in their health care journey, and a lot of them have been interested in food shelves and community tables in the area.”
Malone emphasized the center’s low-barrier approach. “We try to provide quality health care to everybody in the community who might need it. We remove any barrier, whether it’s transportation, cost, or anything else, and make sure we can treat everyone who comes through our doors,” she said.
The Hallie Q. Brown Community Center in St. Paul has become a hub for such resources. Its Food Shelf operates on a client-choice model, allowing residents to select items they will actually use, from dry goods and fresh produce to culturally specific items and personal hygiene products. Appointments for curbside pickup or delivery are available, with priority given to seniors and homebound individuals.
Health care providers are seeing the impact as well. Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare sales agent Angie Flores said seniors are hesitant to make coverage changes amid uncertainty caused by the shutdown.
“We’re seeing seniors a lot more hesitant to change plans or make any changes in their coverage because they’re scared of losing benefits during the government shutdown,” Flores said. She added that recent exits from the Medicare Advantage market, including UCare leaving for 2026, have left hundreds of thousands of potential members searching for coverage.
UCare’s departure affects roughly 158,000 members who will need to shop for new plans during the annual enrollment period. The insurer will continue to offer its Medical Assistance (Medicaid) and MinnesotaCare plans, though coverage in certain areas will be reduced.
Prevention clinics are also adapting. Partners in Prevention Clinic, led by Dr. Debra Eardley, uses a public-health approach to address holistic community needs.
“The Partners in Prevention Clinic is not a medical clinic, it’s a prevention clinic using a traditional public-health-nursing model of care,” Eardley said. “We work holistically with community members to address heart-disease prevention, prediabetes prevention, oral health, and stress reduction.”
Eardley said her clinic helps clients navigate non-medical needs as well. “We’re the people’s clinic in terms of SNAP benefits and other support programs. Using a social-determinant -of-health framework, we assess individuals’ unmet needs and link them to services and resources,” she said.
Federal SNAP benefits are also in flux. A federal judge in Rhode Island recently ordered the Trump administration to fully restore SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans by Friday. Minnesota officials are distributing partial payments, but families continue to face uncertainty amid delays caused by the shutdown.
Hallie Q. Brown emergency food bags are also offered while supplies last. Donations can be dropped off Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; call ahead at 651‑224‑4601 to ensure staff are ready to receive contributions. Those in need can request food by contacting Food Service Manager Althea Lankford at alankford@hallieqbrown.org or 651‑224‑4606.
The Partners in Prevention Clinic offers free or low-cost health services at the Hallie Q. Brown Center, 270 N. Kent Street in St. Paul, every Thursday from 12 to 3 p.m., Sept. 25 through Dec. 4 (except Nov. 27 during Thanksgiving week).
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