Over $100 Million Awarded to Help Consumers Get Health Coverage

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) awarded a new round of $100 million to 44 Navigator organizations helping underserved communities, consumers, and small businesses find and enroll in health coverage through HealthCare.gov, the Health Insurance Marketplace®. The grants are part of a commitment of up to $500 million over five years. Navigators offer free assistance to people exploring health coverage options through HealthCare.gov, from reviewing available plans to assisting with eligibility and enrollment forms, and post-enrollment services such as using their coverage to get care. Navigators can also assist people in helping enroll in or renew Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage.  To encourage smaller community-based organizations to become Navigators, CMS streamlined and simplified the application process this year, and they included requirements that Navigators focus their outreach on key underserved groups, including racial and ethnic minorities; rural communities; the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer/questioning, asexual, plus (LGBTQIA+) communities; refugees; immigrants; families with low income; pregnant and expectant parents; and those who lack transportation, internet access, or English-language proficiency. Consumers can search for help locally or use Healthcare.gov to explore their health coverage options during Open Enrollment, starting November 1, or during a Special Enrollment Period if they qualify based on certain life changes or estimated household income.  Since 2018, the number of Marketplace plans in rural areas has grown increasing the choices of coverage available to consumers.

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