$67M in HHS grants for HIX Navigators

With health insurance marketplace enrollment set to launch this fall, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced $67 million in grant awards to 105 Navigator grant applicants who will assist Americans with selecting plans and joining up. The navigators, trained to provide unbiased information about the new health insurance marketplaces in a culturally competent manner, include qualified private and public groups and the self-employed.

“Navigators will be among the many resources available to help consumers understand their coverage options in the marketplace,” said Sebelius in a statement. “A network of volunteers on the ground in every state–-healthcare providers, business leaders, faith leaders, community groups, advocates and local elected officials–-can help spread the word and encourage their neighbors to get enrolled.”

According to HHS, the navigators must adhere to strict security and privacy standards and complete 20 to 30 hours of training to achieve certification. Additional training will be required throughout the year, and all navigators must renew their certification annually. In-person assistors, Certified Application Counselors, and agents and brokers are required to complete specific training and are subject to federal criminal penalties for violations of privacy or fraud statutes, on top of any relevant state law penalties.

More information on the grantees is available here.