CMS Issues 2020 Federally-Facilitated Exchange Navigator Awards

BALTIMORE, Maryland, Aug. 29 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued the following news release on Aug. 28:

Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) awarded $10 million in Navigator grants to 30 returning organizations, matching the annual level of funding that was awarded over the last two years. Each year, CMS awards Navigator Cooperative Agreement grants to organizations that serve as Navigators in Federally-facilitated Exchange (FFE) states. Navigators offer assistance to consumers shopping for and enrolling in health coverage on the Federal Health Insurance Exchange.

They also provide outreach and education to raise awareness about the Federal Health Insurance Exchange. Navigators are a part of a wide array of options for consumers seeking assistance with enrolling in health coverage, including the Exchange Call Center, Certified Application Counselors, and agents and brokers that can help consumers.

The 2019 Navigator awards were made for a 24-month period of performance, funded in two 12-month increments known as budget periods. The grants awarded today are for the second 12-month budget period. The 2021 Open Enrollment Period for the Federal Health Insurance Exchange is November 1, 2020 to December 15, 2020.

For a list of 2020 CMS Navigator grantees, please visit: https://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Programs-and-Initiatives/Health-Insurance-Marketplaces/assistance.html.