Navigating the Health Insurance Landscape: What’s Next For Navigators, In-Person Assisters and Brokers?

Approximately 10.6 million people were aided by more than 4,400 in-person assistance programs in searching and applying for coverage in the first six-month enrollment period. Brokers also played a role in helping consumers sign up for coverage. Some believe that in-person, enrollment assistance programs are key to future enrollment success, while others voice concerns about the training of those offering assistance, and the security of applicants’ personal information. Many questions arise about their effect on coverage moving forward and the funding required to support the programs.

What has been the effect of navigator and other in-person assistance programs? Has the role of brokers changed? What are some of the key policy and financing questions for in-person assistance programs looking forward? Are the privacy concerns of citizens being addressed by proper and effective confidentiality policies? A panel of experts addressed these and related questions.

Karen Pollitz, senior fellow at the Kaiser Family Foundation, presented an overview of findings from a recent KFF report on in-person assistance in the health insurance marketplaces during the first open enrollment period.

Lisa Stein, vice-president of Work and Family Supports at Seedco, manages a network of community-based services and navigator programs in four states. She focused on programs in states with state-based marketplaces.

Jodi Ray, project director at USF – Florida Covering Kids & Families, provided an on the ground perspective of a navigator program in a state with a federally-facilitated marketplace.

Jessica Waltman, senior vice-president of government affairs at National Association of Health Underwriters highlighted the role of brokers in the new health insurance market.

Ed Howard of the Alliance and Jennifer Tolbert of Kaiser Family Foundation co-moderated.

Follow the briefing on Twitter: #Assisters

Contact:Deanna Okrent(202)789-2300 deannaokrent@allhealth.org

Transcript

Full Transcript (Adobe Acrobat PDF)

Speaker Presentations

Jennifer Tolbert Presentation (Adobe Acrobat PDF)
Karen Pollitz Presentation (Adobe Acrobat PDF)
Jodi Ray Presentation (Adobe Acrobat PDF)
Lisa Stein Presentation (Adobe Acrobat PDF)
Jessica Waltman Presentation (Adobe Acrobat PDF)

Event Details

Agenda (Adobe Acrobat PDF)
Speaker Biographies (Adobe Acrobat PDF)