CMS Announces Additional Navigator Resources

On December 16, 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it was adding more consumer resources to support consumers’ access to coverage during the extended Marketplace Open Enrollment Period (OEP) for HealthCare.gov – with approximately $10.2 million in additional funding awarded to current Navigator grantees in Federally-facilitated Marketplace (FFM) states. This funding will help support Navigator grantees’ outreach, education, and enrollment efforts around the extended Marketplace Open Enrollment Period.

Navigators help families and those in underserved communities gain access to health coverage options by helping them complete their Marketplace applications, access financial assistance through HealthCare.gov, and enroll in coverage through the Marketplace, Medicaid, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). With the additional funding, Navigators will continue to assist consumers during the extended enrollment period on HealthCare.gov that runs through January 15, 2022. Coverage in plans selected after December 15 and by January 15 will generally start February 1, 2022.

As result of increased investment in the Navigator program, consumers in nearly every county have trained and certified Navigators available to help them apply for the health insurance coverage they need during this OEP. The campaign for this Open Enrollment reflects the largest marketing investment for Open Enrollment since the launch of HealthCare.gov. To date, 4.6 million people have enrolled during the 2022 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period with the average consumer having plan options from between six and seven insurance companies, up from four to five companies in 2021.