Sen. Rosen Co-Sponsors Legislation to Support Millions of Americans Who Have Lost Health Insurance During Coronavirus Pandemic

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 -- Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nevada, issued the following news release:

U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), announced her co-sponsorship of the Covid Enrollment Response (COVER) Act, legislation to invest in outreach and enrollment assistance that would help more Americans find quality, affordable health insurance.

"It is unthinkable that any American has to navigate a public health crisis of this magnitude without health insurance," said Senator Rosen.

"Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus pandemic's impact on our economy, millions of Americans have been put out of work and have also lost their employer-sponsored health insurance. We must act immediately to ensure that all Americans who need it can obtain coverage during this critical time. I will continue working with my colleagues on comprehensive legislation that works to protect all Nevadans' health and well-being."

BACKGROUND: The COVER Act would:

* Provide $600 million for intensive consumer assistance, including dedicated staff, one-on-one virtual meetings, and application completion assistance, that would build off the existing Affordable Care Act navigator program and help laid-off workers and their families obtain health coverage;

* Ensure that every state qualifies for funding based on either the rate of uninsured individuals or the number of individuals receiving unemployment;

* Support existing navigator programs and organizations with a demonstrated capacity in successfully serving laid-off and furloughed workers, residents of rural areas, low-income individuals, and other historically underserved populations;

* And promote efforts to provide Americans with information on comprehensive health insurance that protects individuals with pre-existing conditions.