CMS is investing $98.9 million in organizations that help people navigate the ACA marketplace, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program enrollment during the 2023 open enrollment period.
Grants given to 59 "navigator" organizations will help retain and add staff who are trained to help people find health coverage, according to an Aug. 26 CMS news release. More than 1,500 navigators helped with enrollment in nearly every HealthCare.gov state and county during last year's enrollment period.
CMS said navigator organizations will focus outreach efforts on people who identify as racial and ethnic minorities, people in rural communities, the LGBTQ community, American Indians and Alaska Natives, refugee and immigrant communities, low-income families, pregnant women and new mothers, people with transportation or language barriers or lacking internet access, veterans and small-business owners.
Navigators held more than 1,800 outreach and education events in 2022 in locations such as libraries, vaccination clinics, food drives and job fairs, according to the release.
Marketplace enrollment will run from Nov. 1 to Jan. 15.