From the ACA Scam to Real Freedom: How the Shutdown Deal Opens Doors for Minnesotans
By Philip Parrish, Candidate for Governor of Minnesota
November 11, 2025 | parrish4mn.com
Folks, we just survived the longest government shutdown in history—41 days that left 800,000 federal workers unpaid, parks shuttered, and Minnesota families wondering if their next paycheck would arrive.
The good news? Late Sunday, the Senate advanced a bipartisan continuing resolution with a 60-40 procedural vote, funding the government through January 30, 2026, at FY 2025 levels. The chamber followed with final approval Monday, sending it to the House for votes as early as today—with backpay for every furloughed worker. No more chaos—for now.
This isn’t just a D.C. Band-Aid; it’s a launchpad. President Trump said it plain over the weekend: With breathing room secured, it’s time to gut the Affordable Care Act—the white-collar criminal scam I’ve exposed since day one. Premiums in Minnesota jumped 8% last year alone—$200 extra a month—while billions flowed to Minnetonka giants like UnitedHealth. That’s not “affordable”; that’s robbery.
Trump’s bold proposal? Scrap the insurer subsidies and send the cash directly to you—refundable tax credits of $300–$700 a year based on income. No MNsure monopoly. No middlemen. Real choice. If enacted, this potential game-changer could flip the script on the ACA’s failures.
Here in Minnesota, where projections show nearly 90,000 enrollees facing ~$177 more monthly and rates are eyeing another 22% average hike for individuals in 2026, this is a lifeline.
Picture Sarah in St. Paul—single mom, waitress, paying $450/month for a plan that denies half her claims. Under Trump’s proposed plan? She gets her credit, shops a real policy, and pockets $2,000+ a year. That’s groceries, rent, or her kid’s braces.
But the legacy media’s fear machine is already screaming: “What if I lose my doctor?” “Where do I go?”
Don’t buy the propaganda. Governor Walz and the DFL locked you in, shrank networks, and handed a $2.3 million “audit” contract to Optum—the same UnitedHealth arm I named in my federal RICO referral. That’s racketeering, not reform.
Trump’s path—once implemented—unleashes you. Here’s your no-panic playbook:
1. Get Your Direct Cash
• Refundable tax credit hits your return or monthly via a broker (if enacted).
• Details: IRS.gov or 1-800-829-1040.
2. Shop Insurance Like a Pro (No MNsure Required)
Compare off-exchange from these approved Minnesota carriers (2025–2026):
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota – bluecrossmn.com
• HealthPartners – healthpartners.com
• UCare – ucare.org
• Medica – medica.com
• UnitedHealthcare – uhc.com (shop smart)
• Others: Quartz, Sanford Health Plan, MVP Health Care
Free tools: eHealth.com | Policygenius.com
3. Find Your Doctor—Walz Limits Be Damned
• MN Dept. of Health Provider Directory – health.state.mn.us/facilities/regulation/directory/providers-elect.html
• MNsure Network Lookup (works off-exchange) – mnsure.org/shop-compare/networks
• MHCP Directory (Medicaid/MinnesotaCare) – dhs.state.mn.us/main/idcplg?IdcService=GET_DYNAMIC_CONVERSION&RevisionSelectionMethod=LatestReleased&dDocName=id_054216
• HealthPartners Finder – healthpartners.com/find-a-doctor
Stuck? Call 2-1-1 or 651-297-1700—live help matches you to open slots.
This CR isn’t kicking the can—it’s handing Minnesotans the hammer to smash the ACA scam. We’ve been ground zero for corporate grift: UnitedHealth fraud probes, Walz’s insider deals, premiums through the roof. Direct payments, if passed, starve the beast and put you in charge.
I’m Philip Parrish—Navy vet, farmer, and your next governor. Join me at tonight’s town hall. Let’s turn fear into freedom.
Philip Parrish is the Republican candidate for Minnesota Governor in 2026.