Cooperative Agreement to Support Navigators in Federally-facilitated Exchanges | CMS NAV 24 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for CMS NAV 24 001

The Cooperative Agreement to Support Navigators in Federally-facilitated Exchanges (CMS-NAV-24-001) is a discretionary funding opportunity from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) under the Affordable Care Act (CFDA 93.332). Its purpose is to fund organizations to serve as Exchange Navigators in states that use a Federally-facilitated Exchange (FFE). In practical terms, the grant supports on-the-ground, community-based assistance that helps people understand their health coverage options, apply for coverage through the federal Marketplace, and complete enrollment. The program is designed to reduce barriers to coverage, especially for people who are uninsured or who have difficulty navigating eligibility rules, plan choices, and enrollment steps.

Navigator work under this opportunity centers on direct consumer assistance and public-facing outreach. Navigators help individuals and families prepare and submit Marketplace applications, verify or establish eligibility, and enroll in qualified health plans. They also help consumers understand whether they might qualify for affordability programs, such as financial assistance available through the Marketplace, and they provide education so people know what the Exchange is, how it works, and when to sign up. A key emphasis is that Navigators are expected to operate year-round, not only during open enrollment. That year-round role includes ongoing outreach to people who remain uninsured, assistance with special enrollment situations, and post-enrollment support so consumers can actually use their coverage, keep it active, and handle common issues that arise after signing up.

A major policy focus of the funding opportunity is improving access and advancing health equity by prioritizing communities that are underserved or considered vulnerable within the FFE service area. CMS frames Navigators as trusted community partners who can reach people who often face higher administrative, language, cultural, geographic, or socioeconomic barriers when trying to obtain health insurance. The opportunity aligns with broader federal goals of expanding affordable, high-quality coverage and addressing persistent health disparities. The notice also highlights that increased funding is intended to help Navigators expand their reach, with renewed attention to diverse populations and communities that historically have not been well served by traditional enrollment channels.

Eligibility is intentionally broad, reflecting the ACA Navigator statute (section 1311(i)(2)(B)). Applicants can include many types of entities, such as community and consumer-focused nonprofit groups, trade and professional associations, chambers of commerce, unions, and other public or private entities or individuals that meet program requirements. The opportunity also explicitly contemplates participation by Indian tribes, tribal organizations, urban Indian organizations, Alaska Native organizations, and state or local human service agencies, as well as licensed insurance agents and brokers and other capable entities. The published eligible applicant list is expansive and includes state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (including small businesses); and individuals.

Applicants are allowed to collaborate by forming a consortium made up of subrecipients to cover a larger geography or to better target specific underserved populations. When applying as a consortium, the group must name a lead applicant that acts as the main point of contact for CMS, receives the federal award, and functions as the pass-through entity that distributes funds to the other consortium members. This structure is meant to make it easier for multiple organizations with complementary strengths (for example, language access, rural outreach, or culturally specific services) to coordinate and deliver Navigator services at scale.

Key administrative details included in the posting are the funding instrument type (a cooperative agreement, meaning CMS will typically have a more active role in oversight and coordination than in a standard grant), an award ceiling of $16,792,500, and an expectation of around 120 awards. The opportunity was created on June 7, 2024, and the original application closing date was July 8, 2024. Overall, the program is a federal investment in trusted local capacity to help people enroll in Marketplace coverage, understand affordability options, and maintain coverage, with a strong emphasis on reaching communities that face the steepest barriers to obtaining and keeping health insurance.

• The Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services in the affordable care act sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Agreement to Support Navigators in Federally-facilitated Exchanges" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.332.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-06-07.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-07-08. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $16,792,500.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 120 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others, Unrestricted.

Apply for CMS NAV 24 001

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