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The federal government is investing in health insurance access.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on August 26 that it will award $100 million to 44 organizations that are helping underserved populations access health insurance through the HealthCare.gov portal.
The organizations, called navigators, provide free assistance for beneficiaries reviewing health plans, filling out eligibility and enrollment forms, and using coverage to access healthcare, according to a press release. Navigators receive comprehensive federal training and work on all Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans, including those connected to Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), per CMS.
The federal agency is making the investment in advance of the 2025 marketplace open enrollment period, which begins November 1. The money is the first part of a $500 million commitment CMS plans to make over five years, the press release read.
“Under President Biden and Vice President Harris, navigators have helped educate and enroll millions in quality coverage, contributing to the lowest uninsurance rate in our nation’s history, including record enrollments in communities often left behind,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in the release. He also noted that this $100 million payment is the “largest investment ever in the history of the navigator program.”
Historic highs. A record number of individuals (21.4 million) enrolled in marketplace plans in 2024, a 30% increase from 2023, according to data from nonpartisan research and policy institute the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. More people are choosing marketplace plans because of recent federal initiatives that have made the plans more affordable and easier to enroll in, according to the institute.
The $100 million investment is specifically intended for navigators focused on marginalized groups, which make up more than 20% of marketplace enrollees, according to CMS. Those groups include racial and ethnic minorities, rural communities, and LGBTQIA+ people.
For example, one navigator organization that is set to receive part of the funding is Rural Health Project, Inc., which targets 12 rural counties in Oklahoma, according to the press release. Another, called Choose Healthy Life, focuses on Black and African American communities in South Carolina.
“Having access to trusted local partners is key to improving access to health services, particularly for those who just need a little extra help to understand the critical lifeline available through the ACA marketplace and how to choose the best plan to meet their needs,” CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure said in the release.