Rep. Kaptur Urges Trump Administration to Release Navigator Funding to Help Citizens Enroll in Health Insurance Plans
Congresswoman
"Navigators are an essential resource for the American people, and the Navigator program is critical to the success of Open Enrollment. We urge you to unfreeze these funds immediately," the Members wrote. "Americans already face a number of new hurdles to enrolling in coverage during the upcoming Open Enrollment period, including an enrollment timeframe that has been cut in half and a 90% cut to the outreach budget that could have informed consumers about this significant change. Destabilizing the Navigator program could further compound the challenges consumers will face in understanding when and how to enroll."
The letter, addressed to
Members noted Navigators' significance in keeping the Marketplaces stable, writing: "Helping Americans sign up for Marketplace coverage has many benefits, including strengthening the risk pool of the individual health insurance market. Conversely, discouraging enrollment could weaken the market and drive up premiums."
Full text of today's letter:PDF icon2017.09.12 - HEA - Navigator Grants.pdfhttps://kaptur.house.gov/sites/kaptur.house.gov/files/wysiwyg_uploaded/2017.09.12%20-%20HEA%20-%20Navigator%20Grants.pdf
Secretary
Administrator Seema Verma
Dear Secretary Price and Administrator Verma:
We write to urge you to unfreeze Navigator grants and immediately release Notices of Award to 2017 program grantees. As you know, Navigators are essential to the success of Open Enrollment, which begins just a few weeks from now.
Navigators provide an essential, free service to people across the country who need help finding the best plan for their needs and budget. Since its inception, the Navigator program has helped over 9 million consumers learn about their coverage options. Comparing coverage options can be confusing, especially for people who haven't had insurance in the past. Navigators help consumers find and enroll in the plan that's best for them and their families.
On
Disturbingly, we have heard reports that some Navigators have already been laid off because of CMS's highly unusual actions.
Americans already face a number of new hurdles to enrolling in coverage during the upcoming Open Enrollment period, including an enrollment timeframe that has been cut in half and a 90% cut to the outreach budget that could have informed consumers about this significant change. Destabilizing the Navigator program could further compound the challenges consumers will face in understanding when and how to enroll. Helping Americans sign up for Marketplace coverage has many benefits, including strengthening the risk pool of the individual health insurance market. Conversely, discouraging enrollment could weaken the market and drive up premiums.
Navigators are an essential resource for the American people, and the Navigator program is critical to the success of Open Enrollment. We urge you to unfreeze these funds immediately with a retroactive date of
Sincerely,
Adam Smith
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