More health care navigators to be hired for Beaver, Butler counties

Jan. 30--HOMESTEAD -- The Allegheny Intermediate Unit is planning to hire three new Affordable Care Act navigators to expand health insurance enrollment help to residents in Beaver and Butler counties.

The Homestead-based organization currently employs six navigators to assist Allegheny County residents signing up for coverage in Pennsylvania's health insurance marketplace, and the new employees will allow the AIU to reach previously undeserved populations in the two counties, according to officials.

"We are ... certainly excited about being able to outreach to both Butler and Beaver counties," said Sarah McCluan, communications supervisor at the intermediate unit. "By actually having a person in the counties, we (can) definitely go further in supporting the counties."

The additional hires are being made possible by a $65,000 grant from the Philadelphia-based Resources for Human Development -- one of the four organizations in the state that were awarded federal funding last year for ACA outreach, education and enrollment assistance. The AIU received an initial $135,000 from RHD in September to hire the first group of navigators and serve as a partner organization in Allegheny County.

ACA navigators and certified application counselors are trained to help people understand the new law and decide on the best health coverage for themselves and their families.

The initial ACA open-enrollment period opened on Oct. 1, and the deadline to sign up for insurance in 2014 is March 31.

McCluan said the AIU is looking at office space in Aliquippa for the Beaver County navigator site, but it has not finalized a location or a schedule for enrollment assistance.

The organization is still in the interview process for the navigator positions, which are part time. Anyone interested in applying can find additional information at aiu3.net, under the careers section.

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