Enrollment Assistance

Lessons Learned from CHIP Can Apply to Next Phase of ACA

By Gene Lewit The open enrollment period for Marketplace coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has ended and supporters of the legislation are finished celebrating the accomplishment of exceeding enrollment goals despite a rocky start. Nonetheless, this continues to be an important time for ACA outreach and enrollment efforts. Enrollment in Medicaid and the […]

New Rules Protect Navigators and Certified Application Counselors from Over-Reaching State Laws but Also Impose New Requirements

Last week, CMS finalized rules that were proposed in March with a few modifications, some good and some not so good. The rules impact navigators, in-person assisters and certified application counselors (CACs) (collectively known as assisters) as summarized below. 1) Pre-empting certain aspects of state laws that restrict navigator and assisters. States are not precluded […]

Protecting Medicaid Kids at Renewal

By Martha Heberlein As my colleague, Tricia Brooks, noted a few weeks ago, MAGI-based renewals are upon us in many states (save those that have delayed them, which we talked more about in a separate blog). And buried within the ACA is a little-known provision that specifically protects children who were enrolled in Medicaid (but […]

CHIP Enrollees Gain Same Mandate Accommodation as QHP Enrollees

By Joe Touschner Months ago, CMS clarified that those who signed up for a qualified health plan by the end of open enrollment would not face a tax penalty for lacking coverage in early 2014, even if their plans were not effective until May 1.  This was necessary since the mandate exemption for a short […]