Reps. Spanberger, Castor Lead Push Urging HHS to Support Health Insurance Navigators
Since
In a letter sent to HHS Secretary
"Given the extent of the ongoing public health and economic crisis, we urge your department to increase funding for Navigator programs from the insurers' user fees and release the awards as soon as possible," said Spanberger, Castor, and their colleagues. "Increased and immediate access to funding will allow Navigators to effectively assist the millions of Americans who have lost their jobs and their insurance since the COVID-19 pandemic began. We also encourage your department to increase the Navigators' funding for 2021 open enrollment, which is set to be renewed in September."
The Spanberger-Castor letter was also signed by
"Navigators are critically important in outreach and enrollment, especially for those who face additional barriers to getting covered, or those who are brand new to buying their own health insurance, as many young people are. Unfortunately, the Navigator program has been severely underfunded for the last three years, leading to cuts that have left huge parts of the country without any help or guidance," said
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Dear Secretary Azar and Administrator Verma,
We write to urge you to provide immediate emergency funding to support Navigator programs in states that rely on federally facilitated exchanges. Navigators are reporting unprecedented demand for their assistance as newly unemployed individuals seek to maintain their health coverage during a time of great economic and health uncertainty.
According to the
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) created the Navigator program to provide impartial, expert enrollment assistance to community members who need help most: uninsured and underinsured individuals, low-income families, the self-employed, and those with additional barriers to coverage. Navigators have the experience and expertise to meet the challenge of maintaining access to health insurance during this time of economic uncertainty. Indeed, Navigators report the pandemic and associated job losses have caused record demand for their services. Many have adapted to social distancing by holding virtual appointments and are working around the clock to help their clients access care.
Navigators are funded by the user fees insurers pay to participate in the federally facilitated marketplace - not taxpayer dollars.
Given the extent of the ongoing public health and economic crisis, we urge your department to increase funding for Navigator programs from the insurers' user fees and release the awards as soon as possible. Increased and immediate access to funding will allow Navigators to effectively assist the millions of Americans who have lost their jobs and their insurance since the COVID-19 pandemic began. We also encourage your department to increase the Navigators' funding for 2021 open enrollment, which is set to be renewed in September.
Providing the necessary assistance for all Americans who have lost coverage is imperative to fighting the public health crisis created by COVID-19. Navigators are ready and willing to meet this need, and we urge you to provide them immediate and increased support.
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