A nonpartisan leadership forum on Wednesday will look at how to help the uninsured in Minnesota after funding ends March 1 for the General Assistance Medical Care program.

The Greater Twin Cities United Way is sponsoring the 3 p.m.-6 p.m. event at the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs.

Panelists include Nancy Feldman, president and chief executive officer of UCare Minnesota; Larry Jacobs, director of Humphrey Institute Center for Political Studies; Courage Center chief executive officer Jan Malcolm; former state senator Roger Moe; Ramsey County Commissioner Rafael Ortega; and Mitch Pearlstein, founder and president of the Center of the American Experiment.

GAMC, a state program, currently covers 36,000 impoverished single adults without dependent children. Although GAMC enrollees will be transferred to the MinnesotaCare insurance program for low-income working adults, hospital coverage is limited to $10,000 per year under MinnesotaCare.

"There are some great folks doing some work on this issue and we understand the concern and sense of urgency around this, so we just wanted to help the community stay educated and informed," said Lezlie Taylor, United Way's director of supporting health and independence.

More than 100 people have signed up, and Taylor anticipates as many as 150. Seating is limited, so those interested in attending the forum need to email Bev Ahlstrom by 4 p.m. Tuesday (Dec. 1) at ahlstromb@unitedwaytwincities.org. The event is free.