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Access Health CT Announces Partnerships With Two Community Organizations For Navigator Program

Focus is on Statewide Engagement, Education & Enrollment for Communities of Color

HARTFORD, Conn. (September 17, 2020)—Access Health CT (AHCT) announced today two community partnerships that will comprise its 2020-2021 Navigator Program, including: Project Access New Haven, located in New Haven, Conn. and the Community Renewal Team (CRT), based in Hartford, Conn.

The Navigator Program supports Access Health CT’s focus on education, engagement and enrollment efforts that help Connecticut residents use and understand their health insurance plans. Each organization selected is viewed as a trusted, local community voice, sharing a common mission and having a strong connection with target communities in Connecticut with a focus on reducing health disparities.  The Navigator Program allows Access Health CT to deepen its community relationships with the goal of engaging, educating, informing and enrolling individuals in target communities statewide, particularly in the African American/Black and Hispanic communities where enrollment has fluctuated over the last seven years.

AHCT is Connecticut’s official health insurance marketplace, where you can shop, compare and enroll in quality healthcare plans; and it is the only place where you can qualify for financial help to lower your costs, or be eligible for free or low-cost coverage through HUSKY Health (Medicaid/Children’s Health Insurance Plan/CHIP).

The two Navigators will support the in-person help (Enrollment Centers) strategy AHCT follows each year. Earlier this month, AHCT conducted a survey to better understand people’s comfort levels with in-person help and access to technology platforms.  Navigator organizations will work to build one-on-one relationships and offer personalized help, and the following data reinforce the need for in-person assistance including:

This is the first year New Haven-based Project Access-New Haven, has been named a Navigator. “Project Access-New Haven (PA-NH) is honored to serve as a Navigator for Access Health CT. By raising awareness of health insurance options available through Access Health CT and providing enrollment assistance to those in need, we hope to expand health insurance coverage in Greater New Haven, increase access to medical care in the communities we serve, and advance health equity,“ said Giselle Carlotta-McDonald, Interim Executive Director of Project Access-New Haven.

For CRT, this is its second time participating in the Navigator Program. “The Community Renewal Team is pleased to partner once again with Access Health CT to provide Navigator services. This year, more than ever, we know how important health insurance is for our community. We look forward to helping each and every individual and family with accessing their health insurance benefits to stay healthy and safe,” stated Heidi Lubetkin, Vice President of Clinical Support Services of Community Renewal Team.

“We’re thrilled to announce this year’s Navigator Program organizations. It’s part of our goal to deepen relationships to engage, educate and enroll individuals in target communities throughout Connecticut, along with addressing health disparities in communities throughout the state, and our Navigators will allow Access Health CT to do just that,” said AHCT Chief Executive Officer, James Michel.

The annual Open Enrollment period for Access Health CT runs from November 1 to December 15, 2020 for coverage that begins on January 1, 2021.  Individuals may only enroll at other times during the year if they are eligible for HUSKY HEALTH (Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or have experienced a qualifying life event to be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period.

About Project Access-New Haven

Project Access-New Haven (PA-NH) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing access to medical care and services for underserved individuals in Greater New Haven. PA-NH achieves this mission by mobilizing a volunteer provider network to expand care for uninsured patients and providing patient navigator (PN) and community health worker (CHW) services to help underserved patients access timely medical care and connect with local resources to address health-related social needs.

About Community Renewal Team

Community Renewal Team, Inc. is the designated Community Action Agency for Middlesex and Hartford counties and is the largest non-profit provider of human services in Connecticut. The agency’s mission is Preparing Our Community to Meet Life’s Challenges. This mission is achieved each day by helping people and families become self-sufficient while making sure basic needs are met. CRT’s programs include Meals on Wheels, school readiness, energy assistance and weatherization, supportive housing and shelters, and many others, serving people in more than 60 cities and towns in both our core catchment area and throughout Connecticut.

About Access Health CT

Access Health CT (AHCT), Connecticut’s official health insurance marketplace established in 2011, supports health reform efforts at the state and national level. AHCT provides Connecticut residents with resources for better health, and an enhanced and more coordinated healthcare experience, which results in healthier people, healthier communities and a healthier Connecticut. AHCT’s mission is to increase the number of insured residents in Connecticut, promote health, lower costs, and eliminate health disparities. Connecticut residents and small business owners can compare and enroll in healthcare coverage and apply for tax credits for individuals through AHCT. AHCT (or the Marketplace) also partners with the Dept. of Social Services for eligibility and enrollment with state Medicaid Insurance and Children’s Health Insurance Programs. For more information, please visit www.AccessHealthCT.com, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AccessHealthCT and follow us on Twitter @AccessHealthCT.