Pennsylvania's Health Insurance Exchange Navigators

What are Navigators?

The Affordable Care Act is funding certain groups nationwide to act as navigators to help guide Americans through the health insurance exchanges. They are to provide "fair, impartial, and accurate information that assists consumers with submitting the eligibility application, clarifying distinctions about [qualified health plans], and helping qualified individuals make informed decisions during the health plan selection process." To qualify for this funding these navigators must be affiliated with a community organization and must undergo extensive training. They must not be affiliated with the health insurance industry. Navigators will provide additional assistance to people who are disable, do not speak English, or who are not familiar with health insurance.

Who are the Navigators in Pennsylvania?

Five different organizations received federal grants to be navigators in Pennsylvania.

Resources for Human Development
RHD is based in Philadelphia and will work with consumers in Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Chester,  Delaware, Allegheny, Lancaster, York, Berks, and Lehigh counties, which have the highest rates of uninsured people.

Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers
PACHC will provide enrollment assistance to the underserved, typically rural, areas throughout Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumers' Association
PMHCA is working together with the Mental Health Association in PA and Mental Health America Westmoreland County to provide enrollment assistance to people who use or need behavioral health services in their insurance plans.

Cardon Healthcare Network, LLC DBA Cardon Outreach
Cardon Healthcare Network operates in 33 states providing assistance to Medicaid enrollees. They are experienced in working with people who are financially stressed. They will provide individual consumers with assistance in finding a health insurance plan they can afford.

Mental Health America
The Mental Health America Navigator Initiative will work with underserved people who are uninsured or underinsured and who have behavioral health disorders. The National Office is the lead agency. the Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania will work in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties.