Expand Navigators’ Resources for Outreach, Learning, and Longevity Act of 2021

Expand Navigators' Resources for Outreach, Learning, and Longevity Act of 2021 or the ENROLL Act of 2021

This bill makes several changes to the navigator program for health insurance exchanges (a program through which entities receive funding to provide education and enrollment assistance). Specifically, the bill addresses certain funding decisions and regulatory actions taken by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

For example, the bill increases funding for navigators in federally facilitated exchanges (FFEs) beginning in FY2022. (The CMS decreased annual funding for FFE navigators for the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 program years.)

The bill also counters guidance issued by the CMS regarding navigator criteria by requiring FFE navigators to be chosen without regard to how the entity provides information about association health plans or short-term, limited-duration insurance.

The bill also reinstates certain requirements that were removed by the CMS in 2018. Specifically, the bill requires (1) at least two navigators in each FFE, including at least one community and consumer-focused nonprofit group; and (2) that navigators be physically present in the state where the exchange is located.

Bill 117 hr 1874, also known as the Expand Navigators’ Resources for Outreach, Learning, and Longevity Act of 2021, aims to enhance the resources available to navigators who assist individuals in enrolling in health insurance plans through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace. Navigators are trained individuals who provide unbiased information to help consumers understand their health insurance options and navigate the enrollment process.

The bill proposes to increase funding for navigator programs, which have faced budget cuts in recent years, making it more challenging for them to effectively reach and assist individuals in enrolling in health insurance plans. By providing additional resources to navigators, the bill seeks to improve outreach efforts, enhance consumer education, and ultimately increase enrollment in ACA marketplace plans.

Furthermore, the bill emphasizes the importance of ensuring the longevity of navigator programs by establishing a grant program to support ongoing training and professional development for navigators. This will help to ensure that navigators are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively assist consumers in enrolling in health insurance plans. Overall, the Expand Navigators’ Resources for Outreach, Learning, and Longevity Act of 2021 aims to strengthen navigator programs and improve access to health insurance for individuals seeking coverage through the ACA marketplace.