HHS Announces Historic Investment in Navigators
HHS Announces Record Investment in Navigators to Connect Underserved Populations to Coverage
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has unveiled five groundbreaking reports today showcasing unprecedented progress in health care coverage and emphasizing the surge in coverage among minority communities post the enactment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage provisions. The surge in coverage can be largely attributed to the unwavering efforts of the Biden-Harris Administration to enhance access to affordable, high-quality health care, particularly in underserved communities, and underscore the significance of the Inflation Reduction Act‘s tax breaks that reduce health care costs and render marketplace plans more affordable.
Biden-Harris Administration’s Commitment to Health Care Access
HHS has declared a monumental $500 million investment in Navigators, pivotal figures in aiding individuals nationwide in enrolling for health care, especially in underserved communities that have often been overlooked.
For statements from Secretary Becerra in English and Spanish, click here.
Secretary Xavier Becerra of HHS stated, “The Biden-Harris Administration is dedicated to ensuring universal health care access, regardless of race. Today’s statistics illustrate the significant strides made in reaching Black, Latino, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, and American Indian and Alaskan Native populations, who are disproportionately uninsured. HHS is intensifying its efforts by announcing another historic investment in Navigators, aiding us in achieving record enrollment in underserved communities.”
Neera Tanden, White House Domestic Policy Advisor, mentioned, “President Biden firmly believes health care is a right, not a privilege, and is devoted to ensuring every individual has the peace of mind that health insurance provides. These reports show that by enhancing health insurance affordability, accessibility, and enrollment processes, millions of Americans in underserved communities can now access the health care they require and deserve.”
CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure stated, “The groundbreaking health equity advancements championed by the Biden-Harris Administration are the result of connecting numerous communities to health care coverage, often for the first time. By posing the right questions and making unprecedented investments in Marketplace outreach, we aim to better comprehend the communities we serve, facilitating more accessible coverage for our neighbors, friends, and loved ones.”
New Data on Coverage Gains in Minority Communities
Four new reports from HHS’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) provide detailed data on the increase in health care coverage in minority communities from 2010 to 2022. The uninsurance rate for various populations declined as follows from 2010-2022, based on available census data.
HHS is also releasing an ASPE issue brief titled, “Improving Access to Affordable and Equitable Health Coverage: A Review from 2010 to 2024,” outlining the actions undertaken by the Biden-Harris Administration to assist more individuals in obtaining and retaining coverage following the previous Administration’s efforts to diminish funding and enforcement.
New Funding for Navigators
The Biden-Harris Administration continues its substantial investment in Navigators, who aid individuals nationwide – especially in underserved communities – in enrolling for health care coverage, by announcing the availability of $500 million in grants over the next five years. Navigators have proven highly effective, contributing to the record-breaking number of people – 21.4 million – who enrolled for health care coverage through the Marketplaces during the 2024 Open Enrollment Period.
- Twenty-two percent of enrollees who report their race/ethnicity are Latino, indicating an estimated five million Latino Americans with Marketplace coverage in 2024.
- Nine percent of enrollees who report their race/ethnicity are Black, suggesting nearly two million Black Americans with Marketplace coverage in 2024.
- Approximately 12 percent of enrollees who report their race/ethnicity are AANHPI, pointing to over 2.5 million AANHPI Americans with Marketplace coverage in 2024.
- One percent of enrollees who report their race/ethnicity are AI/AN, indicating an estimated 200,000 AI/AN Americans with Marketplace coverage in 2024.
CMS expects to allocate a total of $500 million over the five-year performance period, distributed in five 12-month budget periods. For the initial 12-month budget period, slated for award this fall, $100 million is available, marking the largest investment in the Navigator program to date.
Past Navigator awards:
- 2024: $100 million (anticipated)
- 2023: $98.6 million
- 2022: $98.9 million
- 2021: $90.2 million
- 2020: $10 million
- 2019: $10 million
- 2018: $10 million
- 2017: $36.8 million
- 2016: $63 million
Read More of this Story at www.hhs.gov – 2024-06-07 12:00:00
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