The Affordable Care Act is working for millions of Americans who are able to access quality health coverage at a price they can afford, in large part because of the efforts of in-person assisters in local communities across the nation. People shopping for and enrolling in coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace can get local help in a number of ways, including through Navigators.
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell this week announced $60 million in Navigator grant awards to 90 organizations in states with federally-facilitated and state partnership marketplaces. These awards support preparation and outreach activities in year two of marketplace enrollment and build on lessons learned from last year.
“In-person assisters have an impact on the lives of so many Americans, helping individuals and families across the country access quality, affordable health coverage,” Burwell said. “We are committed to helping Americans get covered and stay covered with in-person assistance in their own communities.”
According to a recent outside survey, a variety of assisters, including Navigators, in both state-based and federally-facilitated marketplaces were responsible for helping an estimated 10.6 million consumers apply for coverage in marketplace plans, Medicaid, and/or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) during the first open enrollment period. Assisters tend to help those consumers in communities with the most challenging or complicated enrollments, and according to another poll, Latinos in particular valued the assistance of in-person help. Navigators provide unbiased information to consumers about the marketplace and other public programs in a way that recognizes the cultures of the communities they serve. Navigators were selected to receive these awards through a competitive grant process and other standards such as effectiveness and program integrity.
In addition to helping eligible individuals and their families enroll in coverage, Navigators help consumers compare their health coverage options, including helping them determine whether they are eligible for public programs such as Medicaid and CHIP and guide consumers—many of whom have never had insurance before—on accessing and using their new coverage, among other important functions.
In addition to Navigators, Marketplaces make other resources available to consumers to help them access coverage, such as certified application counselors, non-navigator assistance personnel (also known as in-person assisters), and agents and brokers. Consumers in federally-facilitated and state partnership Marketplaces can visit: localhelp.healthcare.gov/ to find assistance in their area.
For a list of HHS Navigator awardees, or more information about Navigators and other Marketplace resources, visit: http://cciio.cms.gov/programs/exchanges/assistance.html.
