Representative Sheila Jackson Lee

Representing the 18th District of TEXAS

CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE ANNOUNCES $785,000 NAVIGATOR GRANT AWARDED TO HOUSTON NON-PROFIT

Dec 17, 2013

Press Release

August 15, 2013

Change Happens Will Use Navigator Grant to Provide In-Person Assistance to Consumers Shopping In the New Health Insurance Marketplaces

Houston, Texas – Today, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee announced that $785,000 has been awarded in Navigator grants to Change Happens, a non-profit organization located in Houston. The organization and its staff will provide in-person assistance to consumers in Harris County who want additional help in shopping for and enrolling in plans in the Health Insurance Marketplaces beginning this fall.

“The Navigators will be a key resource to help many consumers in our communities understand their coverage options in the Marketplace,” Congresswoman Jackson Lee said. “There will also be many other resources to assist with enrollment. Community health centers are preparing to help enroll consumers in coverage. In addition, the Department of Health and Human Services has also begun training other individuals who will be providing in-person assistance, such as agents and brokers and certified application counselors.”

The Navigators will be trained to provide unbiased information, in a culturally competent manner, to consumers about the Health Insurance Marketplaces, qualified health plans, and public programs such as Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. They will also be trained on adhering to strict security and privacy standards – including how to safeguard a consumer’s personal information – and will be required to meet these standards. They will be subject to federal criminal penalties for violations of privacy and fraud statutes, on top of any relevant state law penalties.

“These Navigator grants build on the progress that has already been made in outreach and education about the new Marketplaces,” Congresswoman Jackson Lee pointed out. “Consumers can now learn about the Marketplaces through www.HealthCare.gov. HHS has also launched a 24-hours-a-day consumer call center ready to answer questions about the new Marketplaces and how to get ready for enrollment in 150 languages.”

“Beginning on October 1, millions of Americans will have brand-new access to affordable private health insurance coverage,” Congresswoman Jackson Lee concluded. “The new Marketplaces will provide individuals and families a choice among various quality private health insurance plans and will also make the coverage affordable through sliding-scale premium tax credits. This Navigator program will play a vital role in helping many consumers find the best plan for them.”

###

Congresswoman Jackson Lee is a Democrat from Texas’s 18th Congressional District. She is a senior member of the House Committees on Judiciary and Homeland Security and is Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security

Below is the complete list of the organizations in Texas that were awarded Navigator grants: