The Obama administration is awarding groups a total of $63 million this year to promote Obamacare.
Called “navigator grants,” the funds are for helping people navigate, shop and enroll in health insurance plans sold on healthcare.gov or through state partnership marketplaces, starting Nov. 1. The Department of Health and Human Services is renewing awards to 96 groups and awarding grants to two new groups, both in Hawaii.
“We are committed to making sure consumers have all the resources they need to find the right plan when open enrollment begins on Nov. 1,” said healthcare.gov CEO Kevin Counihan. “We know in-person assistance is critical to connecting individuals and families with quality, affordable health coverage that best meets their needs.”
The administration is trying to convince the remaining uninsured Americans, about 30 million, to sign up for plans through the healthcare law’s new insurance exchanges. While insurers have announced big rate increases for the upcoming enrollment season, a majority of marketplace shoppers are eligible for federal subsidies to reduce their costs.
