Wolf Administration Calls on Federal Government to Release Funds for Program to Help Consumers Enroll in Health Coverage
Insurance Commissioner
The navigator program funds nonprofit entities and health care organizations to assist Pennsylvanians when searching, shopping for, and enrolling in health insurance coverage.
"As any business leader knows, for a program to succeed it must have guidance and stability. Guidance and stability allow an organization to effectively plan for their short-term and long-term futures," Altman wrote in a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary
As of now, the
Altman said the
"Last year, based on CMS guidance received in May, the navigator organizations created their open enrollment plan believing funding from prior years would be maintained. In August, CMS announced a significant reduction in navigator funding. The inconsistent guidance created an inability for the navigator organizations to implement a successful plan for helping people enroll," Altman wrote.
When this funding cut was announced, along with a 90 percent reduction in advertising to consumers by the federal government and the decision to cut the enrollment period in half,
Further signs that
Altman said further actions by the Trump Administration to create uncertainty in the insurance market and de-stabilize the ACA will only hurt Pennsylvanians who need health insurance coverage.
"One of the primary goals of health care reform is to give more Americans access to health care. As regulators, our ability to assist people with gaining that access is limited, and we rely on navigators to help reach this goal. More enrollees mean a more stable risk pool, which ultimately decreases costs," Altman wrote. "If navigators are not available to help guide Pennsylvanians, we lose the opportunity to help people obtain health insurance, and the ripple effect is the undermining of our health care system and stable insurance markets."
Altman said to keep markets stable, the federal government needs to release funding guidance for navigator organizations now, so these important consumer assistance groups can make their plans to help Pennsylvanians find the best health coverage this fall.
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