Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that to continue its efforts to increase access to enrollment assistance for consumers, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will make $80 million available in grants to Navigators in Federal Marketplaces for the 2022 plan year. The funding, which will be used for outreach and education efforts, is the largest allocation CMS has made available for Navigator grants to date and represents an eight fold increase in funding from the previous year. CMS invested $10 million annually in the Navigator program beginning with funding awarded in 2018 for the 2019 plan year. CMS awarded $36.2 million in 2017 for the 2018 plan year, down from a high of $63 million awarded in 2016 for the 2017 plan year.
The Department also released the 2021 Marketplace Open Enrollment report, which shows over 12 million consumers nationally selected a Marketplace plan during the 2021 Open Enrollment Period (OEP), a 5% increase from the 2020 OEP.
The Biden Administration opened a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) in response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency from February 15 to August 15, 2021. The SEP, along with the additional financial assistance afforded by the American Rescue Plan, offers the opportunity for individuals and families to take advantage of significantly reduced premiums, increased savings, and quality, affordable health coverage through the Marketplaces using the Federal Platform right now. More than 500,000 Americans have signed up for Marketplace coverage through HealthCare.gov during the SEP… Read the full announcement here.
Source: HHS Announces the Largest Ever Funding Allocation for Navigators and Releases Final Numbers for 2021 Marketplace Open Enrollment – April 21, 2021. CMS
