Biden-Harris Reveal Historic Rise in Minority Health Coverage

On Jun 7, 2024

TL/DR –

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a $500 million investment in Navigators, who help people, particularly in underserved communities, sign up for health care coverage. The investment comes on the back of five new reports showing increases in health care coverage, particularly among minority communities, since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act’s coverage provisions. The reports also highlight the success of the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to increase access to affordable, quality health care and the importance of the Inflation Reduction Act’s tax breaks that lower health care costs.

HHS Record Investment in Navigators for Improved Health Coverage

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued five new reports highlighting significant health care coverage improvements, particularly in minority communities, following the implementation of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) coverage provisions. This coverage expansion is largely attributed to the Biden-Harris Administration’s persistent efforts to bolster access to affordable, quality health care in underserved communities, reinforced by the Inflation Reduction Act’s health care cost reduction measures.

HHS has also announced a landmark $500 million investment in Navigators, who are instrumental in assisting individuals nationwide, especially in marginalized communities, to register for health coverage. Listen to Secretary Becerra discuss this here.

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra stated that the Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of their racial or ethnic background, has access to health care. In light of this, HHS is increasing its investment in Navigators to facilitate enhanced registration in underserved communities.

Coverage Gains in Minority Communities & New Funding for Navigators

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) at HHS has released four reports elucidating coverage gains among minority communities from 2010 to 2022. Concurrently, HHS has released an ASPE brief titled, “Improving Access to Affordable and Equitable Health Coverage: A Review from 2010 to 2024,” outlining the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to increase coverage following previous administration’s cutbacks.

In its continuous investment in Navigators, the Biden-Harris Administration has announced the availability of $500 million in grants over the next five years, contributing to the record-breaking number of 21.4 million people who signed up for coverage via the Marketplaces during the 2024 Open Enrollment Period.

Navigators have played an essential role in connecting underserved communities to Marketplace coverage in 2024:

Approximately five million Latino Americans could have Marketplace coverage.
Almost two million Black Americans are estimated to be covered.
AANHPI Americans with Marketplace coverage could exceed 2.5 million.
AI/AN Americans are estimated to have about 200,000 under Marketplace coverage.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) plans to award a total of $500 million over a five-year period for the Navigator program, with the first 12-month budget period, to be awarded this fall, amounting to $100 million, which is the largest investment to date.

Prior Navigator program awards:

2024: $100 million (projected)
2023: $98.6 million
2022: $98.9 million
2021: $90.2 million
2020: $10 million
2019: $10 million
2018: $10 million
2017: $36.8 million
2016: $63 million

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