Prairie State Wire

The Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) and the Department of Insurance (IDOI) have announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Get Covered Illinois Navigator Grant Program Plan Year 2025. This $6.5 million initiative aims to establish a statewide Illinois Navigator program as the state transitions to a state-based marketplace for health insurance. Get Covered Illinois, the official Illinois Marketplace, will oversee and train Illinois Navigators.

"This funding will help ensure that we have the necessary assistance in place to help Illinoisans connect to health care coverage as we work toward the launch of Illinois' state-based marketplace," said HFS Acting Director Elizabeth Whitehorn. "We look forward to reviewing these applications and continuing our work with IDOI to make it easier and more seamless for Illinoisans to find the best health insurance option for them."

The program particularly focuses on serving individuals who may face challenges enrolling in coverage without assistance from a Get Covered Illinois Navigator. These groups include individuals with low literacy, limited English proficiency, low-income individuals, people with disabilities, those experiencing homelessness, and other hard-to-reach populations.

"Getting the word out about the free enrollment assistance that Get Covered Illinois Navigators provide is key to helping people who are uninsured and underinsured get the coverage they need," said IDOI Acting Director Ann Gillespie. "This funding enables even more people to receive in-person assistance to complete applications and enroll in affordable coverage, whether it's for an ACA Marketplace plan or Medicaid. Get Covered Illinois looks forward to continued collaboration with Illinois Navigators to make everyone aware of such a critical resource."

Details regarding the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Get Covered Illinois Navigator Grant Program Plan Year 2025 are as follows:

- Posted on June 5, 2024.

- Applications are due by July 5, 2024.

- Registration and pre-qualification is through the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal: www.grants.illinois.gov/portal

- Award announcement expected in August 2024.

- Award amounts can range from $500,000 - $5.5 million, depending on project proposal scope.

- The maximum contract period is August 2024 through October 2025.

Building the Get Covered Illinois Navigator program is part of broader efforts during this transition period leading up to the full launch of the Illinois State-Based Marketplace for Plan Year 2026. IDOI will manage Get Covered Illinois using the federal platform during Plan Year 2025 before transitioning fully to a state-operated marketplace by Plan Year 2026.

During this phased transition, the state will gradually assume marketplace functions from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Consumers can begin enrolling in coverage using the Get Covered Illinois platform during the ACA Marketplace Open Enrollment Period starting November 1, 2025.

More information can be found at Get Covered Illinois.