FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ST. PAUL, Minn.—Today, MNsure announced $3.5 million in funding to support the Navigator Outreach and Enrollment Grant Program. Forty-three organizations across Minnesota will use these grants to fund targeted outreach to uninsured populations and sustain a robust statewide navigator network to provide application, enrollment and renewal assistance to Minnesotans who need help to get and maintain coverage. This year’s grants began on September 1, 2020, and will end June 30, 2021.

Over the last year, nearly 23,000 Minnesotans found coverage with the help of a navigator grantee organization and tens of thousands were helped with other important steps, like reporting changes or renewing coverage.

"In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, these agencies have quickly adapted their strategies to continue providing crucial assistance to Minnesotans across the state helping them find and enroll in comprehensive health care coverage,” said MNsure CEO Nate Clark. “Free in-person and over the phone options are available. Set up an appointment today and be ready when open enrollment starts on November 1."

Grantees work to assist communities with all aspects of the application, enrollment and renewal process, and utilize established relationships with populations facing barriers to coverage.

Grants are split into three funding areas: Geographic Focus, Population Focus, and new this year, Capacity Building. /assets/FY2021-Outreach-Enrollment-Grantee-Summary_tcm34-449976.pdfInformation about each grantee, including award amount.

Funding Area 1: Geographic Focus Grants ($2.4 million)

Grants in the geographic funding area support highly skilled navigator organizations working collaboratively with MNsure to reach the uninsured and support Minnesotans in obtaining and maintaining health insurance coverage. The focus on this grant area is on ensuring statewide access to a navigator for any Minnesotan looking for in-person assistance.

• Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency—Virginia [Northeast MN]
• Briva Health—Minneapolis [Twin Cities & St. Cloud]
• Community Resource Connections—Bemidji [North Central MN]
• Generations Health Care Initiatives—Duluth [Greater Duluth]
• Health Access MN—St. Paul [Twin Cities & Southeast MN]
• Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid—St. Cloud [Central MN]
• Northwest Community Action—Badger [Northwest MN]
• Portico Healthnet—St. Paul [Twin Cities]
• United Community Action Partnership—Willmar [Southwest & Western MN]

Funding Area 2: Population Focus ($1 million)

Grants in the population funding area support organizations that have identified populations that face barriers to enrolling in coverage and/or high levels of uninsurance and can demonstrate an ability to effectively reach, enroll and help renew coverage for the population.

• African Community Senior Services—Minneapolis [Twin Cities]
• CAPI USA—Brooklyn Center [Twin Cities]
• C.A.R.E. Clinic—Red Wing [Goodhue & Wabasha counties]
• Face to Face Counseling Services—St. Paul [Twin Cities]
• Hmong American Partnership—St. Paul [Twin Cities]
• HealthFinders Collaborative, Inc.—Faribault [Southeast MN]
• Intercultural Mutual Assistance Association—Rochester [Southeast MN]
• International Institute—St. Paul [Twin Cities]
• JustUs Health—Minneapolis [Twin Cities]
• Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe—Onamia [East Central MN]
• Native American Community Clinic—Minneapolis [Twin Cities]
• NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center—Minneapolis [Twin Cities]
• Planned Parenthood North Central Region—St. Paul [Twin Cities & Greater MN]
• Minnesota Community Care—St. Paul [Twin Cities]

Funding Area 3: Capacity Building ($130,000)

Grants invest in developing the capacity of new or existing navigator organizations with the potential to serve geographic areas or populations where there is a demonstrated need for more navigator assistance.

• African Immigrants Community Services—Minneapolis [Twin Cities]
• Merrick Community Services—St. Paul [Ramsey County]
• Wright County Community Action—Maple Lake [Wright County]

View MNsure's grantee map to find an organization that serves your region. The map is available in six languages: /assets/2021-mnsure-navigator-grantee-map-english_tcm34-449885.pdfEnglish, /assets/2021-mnsure-navigator-grantee-map-hmong_tcm34-449900.pdfHmong, /assets/2021-mnsure-navigator-grantee-map-spanish_tcm34-449973.pdfSpanish, /assets/2021-mnsure-navigator-grantee-map-somali_tcm34-449972.pdfSomali, /assets/2021-mnsure-navigator-grantee-map-russian_tcm34-449902.pdfRussian and /assets/2021-mnsure-navigator-grantee-map-vietnamese_tcm34-449974.pdfVietnamese.

MNsure is Minnesota's health insurance marketplace where individuals and families can shop, compare and choose health insurance coverage that meets their needs. MNsure-certified navigators are trained experts at local, trusted community organizations. Minnesotans can use a navigator for help filling out an application and enrolling in coverage. Services from MNsure-certified navigators are always free. Visit mnsure.org or call 651-539-2099 for more information.