NC gets $3.4 million for ACA navigators
The federal funding will largely pay for health insurance advisers called "navigators" to conduct outreach activities throughout the state to help the public select health insurance plans on the federal marketplace. The navigators are trained to help applicants understand monthly premiums, deductibles, co-payments and drugs costs, as well as the federal subsidies available to offset premium costs for lower- and middle-income people.
"This year is even going to be more critical," said
In 2017, two major insurers will drop out of the North Carolina ACA market, leaving only one carrier,
However, insurers have until
The bulk of
Also receiving federal navigator grants are the
The grants for 2017 enrollment, totaling
ACA open enrollment begins
In the seven western counties covered by
The Affordable Care Act requires most Americans to have health insurance or pay a penalty. Most, however, are insured through their employers or through federal programs like
Legal Aid plans to organize enroll-a-thons, presentations, one-on-one consultations and other outreach activities. Legal Aid spokesman
"It just might discourage them because it's so dispiriting," Driscoll said.
Driscoll noted that low-income applicants will have most of their monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs discounted through subsidies. This year, more than 91 percent of
"There might be less options but there's still good options," Driscoll said.
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