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ASPIN Receives Grant Renewal for 8th year of Assistance with Health Insurance as Navigators

Affiliated Service Providers of Indiana (ASPIN) has been notified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that their Navigator Cooperative Agreement Award to serve as Navigators in Federally-facilitated Marketplace (FFM) in Indiana has been renewed.

This award will support the work of ASPIN as they offer assistance to consumers searching, shopping for, and enrolling in health coverage for 2021. 

All Navigators, as many of the nation’s workforce, have moved to working from home because of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.  Since March, ASPIN Navigators have been helping consumers enroll in healthcare via Zoom, Skype or over the phone.  Navigators are also providing education sessions via Zoom. The transition has been a success, consumers are enjoying the convenience of enrolling in health insurance from their own homes too.

Marketplace Open Enrollment starts November 1 and ends December 15, however, ASPIN Navigators help year-round!  ASPIN Navigators also help consumers and their families enroll in the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP), Medicaid, or the Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP).  Many consumers qualify for a special enrollment period for the Marketplace throughout the year. 

Hoosiers who have faced challenges because of COVID-19, lose of a job, reduced wages or lose of insurance coverage –may qualify for a special enrollment period or one of the state health coverage options. Call ASPIN’s toll-free call center to connect to a Navigator to ask questions about HIP, Medicaid, CHIP or Marketplace or request an appointment to enroll.  The toll-free number is 877-313-7215 or visit ASPIN’s website  https://aspinhealthnavigator.org/ to request a SKYPE or ZOOM appointment. All services provided are free of charge.

Affiliated Service Providers of Indiana, Inc. (d.b.a. ASPIN) is a 501 (C) 3 not for profit network that operates four major service lines: third party administration, training and workforce development, health improvement, and grants management. The mission of ASPIN is to provide innovative educational programs, resource management, program development, and network management in collaboration with all healthcare entities to address health disparities and whole health management.

“The ASPIN Health Navigator Project is supported by Funding Opportunity Number CA-NAV-19-002 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The contents provided are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of HHS or any of its agencies.”

As Open Enrollment Begins, ASPIN Encourages Consumers to Save Money – and call for help if you need assistance

Save money on insurance by visiting HealthCare.gov

Open enrollment on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces approaches on November 1. This is a great time for consumers to examine the deals found on the marketplace, to save money and better meet their health care needs. In fact, consumers who went on HealthCare.gov, compared their plan options, and selected the plan that best fit their health and financial needs ended up paying 38 percent less per month on average in 2019 than the consumers whose plans were automatically renewed.  It’s also important for consumers to exercise caution with plans offered outside the marketplace, due to the removal of key consumer protections.  Consumers have until December 15 to enroll.

In Indiana, 40% of current marketplace consumers will have plans available for 2020 that cost less than $50 per month after tax credits. Nearly 68% of marketplace enrollees in Indiana received premium tax credits to help them pay for their 2019 coverage. In addition, 43% of Indiana marketplace enrollees also qualified for cost-sharing reductions this year, which lowered their out-of-pocket costs for health care services.  

Consumers enrolling in a plan on HealthCare.gov, known as a Qualified Health Plan or QHP, are guaranteed to receive comprehensive coverage, with no pre-existing condition exclusions or markups. In addition to covering essential health benefits (including prescription drugs, mental health treatment, maternity care, among other health care services), consumers enrolled in a QHP also receive free preventive care services, such as annual checkups and immunizations. 

The health insurance landscape can be confusing, but free, local in-person help is available. You can find someone to help you navigate the enrollment process by visiting www.aspinhealthnavigtor.org or calling ASPIN’s toll free number 877-313-7215.

Affiliated Service Providers of Indiana, Inc. (d.b.a. ASPIN) is a 501 (C) 3 not for profit network that operates four major service lines: third party administration, training and workforce development, health improvement, and grants management. The mission of ASPIN is to provide innovative educational programs, resource management, program development, and network management in collaboration with all healthcare entities to address health disparities and whole health management.

Consumers should log on to Healthcare.gov by December 15th to get the comprehensive health coverage they need. 

ASPIN is Pleased to Announce Our 7th Year of Assistance with Health Insurance as Navigators

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has awarded Affiliated Service Providers of Indiana (ASPIN) a Navigator Cooperative Agreement Award to serve as Navigators in Federally-facilitated Marketplace (FFM) in Indiana. For the 2020 Plan Year Open Enrollment, CMS awarded a total of $10 million to 34 organizations, matching the annual level of funding awarded last year. ASPIN was awarded $600,000 over the next two years for Indiana. This award will support the work of ASPIN as they offer assistance to consumers searching, shopping for, and enrolling in health coverage for 2020. 

The program will target veteran families, small business owners, seasonal staff, immigrants, part-time workers, farmers, rural, and individuals with addictions or mental health diagnoses involved with the criminal justice system. In addition, navigators will assist consumers whose income fluctuates between income guidelines for Marketplace insurance coverage and Medicaid.  Marketplace Open Enrollment is from November 1 to December 15.  ASPIN has navigators that help year-round!

Affiliated Service Providers of Indiana, Inc. (d.b.a. ASPIN) is a 501 (C) 3 not for profit network that operates four major service lines: third party administration, training and workforce development, health improvement, and grants management. The mission of ASPIN is to provide innovative educational programs, resource management, program development, and network management in collaboration with all healthcare entities to address health disparities and whole health management.

Call ASPIN’s toll-free call center to connect to a Navigator to ask questions about HIP, Medicaid, CHIP or Marketplace or request an appointment to enroll.  The toll-free number is 877-313-7215 or visit ASPIN’s website  https://aspinhealthnavigator.org/ to request an appointment. All services provided are free of charge.

“The ASPIN Health Navigator Project is supported by Funding Opportunity Number CA-NAV-19-001 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.The contents provided are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of HHS or any of its agencies.”

Webinar– Hot Topic: Working with Ex-Offenders

July 25, 2019 from 3:00-4:30pm ET

Julia Holloway from ASPIN and Bill Wilson from the Indiana Sheriff’s Association presented at Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)’s “Hot Topic” webinar that focused on working with the ex-offender population and their families. In addition to assisting with health insurance enrollment options, there are many ways assister organizations can help ex-offenders facilitate their return to community life. Presenters discussed partnering with other agencies, how to work with the criminal justice system, and best practices for working with the ex-offender population. Over 221 organizations  joined us for this informative session, where two Navigator organizations that have successfully worked with the ex-offender population and their community partners shared their tips and insights to ensure the best possible transition for ex-offenders re-entering their communities.

CMS.GOV- September 12, 2018

Grants Awarded for the Federally-Facilitated Exchange Navigator Program

Grants Awarded for the Federally-Facilitated Exchange Navigator Program

Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) awarded $10 million in Navigator grant awards to 39 organizations who will serve as Navigators in Federally-facilitated Exchange states. These awards will support the work of organizations that offer assistance to consumers navigating, shopping for, and enrolling in health insurance coverage for 2019.

“We are committed to making sure that consumers have a positive experience. The grants announced today mark a new direction for the Navigator program aimed at providing a more cost-effective approach that takes better advantage of volunteers and other community partners,” said CMS Administrator Seema Verma.  “This new direction will increase accountability and ensure the grants are effective in helping consumers find health coverage that meets their needs. We will continue to monitor the impact of these changes with the primary goal of ensuring consumers have the resources to select a health plan that best fits their needs.”

Navigators are one of many ways individuals can get help shopping for, and enrolling in, health insurance coverage; CMS continues to expand options for individuals to enroll in coverage through partnerships with the private sector, including agents and brokers and health insurance issuers.

Applicants to the 2018 Navigator Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) were encouraged to leverage volunteers and enter strategic partnerships with public and private organizations in their work targeting “left behind”[1] consumers who could benefit from individual market coverage. Applicants were also directed to use more cost-effective strategies to meet their enrollment goals. The organizations selected for an award will:

  • Partner with public and private organizations in their community to provide more efficient, targeted outreach, such as coordinating outreach activities with local Medicaid/CHIP outreach or providing more virtual or mobile assistance to consumers.
  • Target the “left behind” population, defined in the FOA to include those individuals who are disproportionately without access to health insurance coverage or care and who may be unaware of the full range of coverage options available to them, including coverage options in addition to QHPs, such as association health plans and short-term, limited-duration insurance.
  • Utilize innovative and cost-effective strategies for reaching consumers, intended to maximize the impact on communities while ensuring efficient use of federal funds.

The grants awarded today will have a period of performance of one year from the award date, September 12, 2018, to September 11, 2019. Entities and individuals cannot serve as Navigators in the Federally-facilitated Exchanges without receiving federal grant funding from CMS to perform Navigator duties.

For a list of 2018 CMS Navigator grantees or more information about the Navigator program, please visit:  https://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Programs-and-Initiatives/Health-Insurance-Marketplaces/assistance.html.