MNsure has noticed instances where assisters are using the same email address for both their MNsure assister portal and consumer portal accounts. Since MN-EES requires unique email addresses to serve as usernames, it is essential that each portal account has a distinct email address. Therefore, a single email address cannot be assigned as the username for both an assister and a consumer account.

Currently, staff members are unable to modify a user's username or email address. In situations where an assister needs to claim both an assister portal account and a consumer portal account, they must first claim one account and then change the username/email address on that account to a different and unique email. Once this change is made, the original email address should be available to claim the other account. This may require the user to update one account at a time until each account has the correct unique email address assigned. 

Step-by-Step Workaround

If an assister has the same email address attached to both their assister portal account and their consumer portal account, they may need to update one account before they can claim the other.

1. The user will claim one of the accounts first.
2. Once they are signed in, the user updates the username/email address on the account to a different, unique email address.
3. After that email address has been changed, the original email address should no longer be tied to the first account as the username.
4. The user can then attempt to claim the second account using the original email address, or the email address that should be associated with the second account.
5. If needed, the user can update the username/email address on the second account as well.
6. Repeat the process one account at a time until each portal account has its own unique email address as the username.

Important: The same email address cannot be used as the username for more than one portal account. Each portal account must have its own unique email address.