Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has announced $67 million in grant awards to 105 Navigator grant applicants in federally facilitated and state partnership Health Insurance Marketplaces. These Navigator grantees and their staff will serve as in-person resources for Americans who want additional assistance in shopping for and enrolling in plans in the Marketplace beginning this fall.
“Navigators will be among the many resources available to help consumers understand their coverage options in the Marketplace,” said Secretary Sebelius. “A network of volunteers on the ground in every state – health care providers, business leaders, faith leaders, community groups, advocates, and local elected officials – can help spread the word and encourage their neighbors to get enrolled.”
Consumers can learn about and enroll in coverage later this fall through HealthCare.gov. HHS also has launched a 24-hour-a-day consumer call center ready to answer questions in 150 languages. More than 1,200 community health centers across the country are preparing to help enroll uninsured Americans in coverage. In addition, HHS has begun training other individuals to provide in-person assistance, such as agents and brokers and certified application counselors.
Navigators are trained to provide unbiased information in a culturally competent manner to consumers about health insurance, the new Health Insurance Marketplaces, qualified health plans, and public programs including Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. The Navigator funding opportunity announcement was open to eligible private and public groups and people who are self-employed who met certain standards to promote effectiveness, diversity, and program integrity.
Navigators will be required to adhere to strict security and privacy standards – including how to safeguard a consumer’s personal information. They will be required to complete 20 to 30 hours of training to be certified, will take additional training throughout the year, and will renew their certification yearly. All types of enrollment assistants – including in-person assistants, Certified Application Counselors, and agents and brokers – are required to complete specific training and are subject to federal criminal penalties for violations of privacy or fraud statutes, on top of any relevant state law penalties.