The REACH Healthcare Foundation strongly condemns and rejects the faulty logic employed to justify recently announced cuts to the federal Navigator program by The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). By slashing funding a shocking 90%, the administration’s true objective is becoming abundantly clear—to limit access to affordable health insurance plans on the federally facilitated marketplace (FFE) for some of the most vulnerable populations in America.
REACH has worked alongside federal, state and local Navigator programs for years so that people in our six-county service area can receive assistance selecting affordable health insurance plans. Navigators are highly trained and trusted community members who provide unbiased, clear information and tailor their recommendations to meet the specific needs of consumers. They are not bound by profit margins like private insurance brokers are.
People experiencing significant barriers to care, including those without permanent housing, people with disabilities, older adults, and those with literacy challenges have unique needs when trying to obtain affordable health insurance. The administration’s actions do not account for the inherent complexities of assisting these vulnerable people and other populations who require more time and assistance to navigate today’s healthcare environment.
Why should it matter to those who have never needed a Navigator? Because millions of Americans may lose their current insurance or be sold inadequate policies that, despite having low premiums, offer little to no meaningful coverage. After two decades of health policy experience, REACH leadership recalls vividly the days before the launch of the FFE—soaring uninsurance rates, medical debt, and uncompensated care expense for providers across our region. These costs ultimately get passed on to those with private insurance through higher premiums, deductibles, and reduced employer contributions. Even more concerning, we know that this latest decision will result in poorer health outcomes.
The REACH Healthcare Foundation urges our local Congressional delegation to put an end to this and other misguided, sweeping cuts destined to undermine public health.
About the REACH Healthcare Foundation
The REACH Healthcare Foundation is a charitable foundation dedicated to improving health coverage and access to quality, affordable healthcare for uninsured and medically underserved people. The foundation focuses its support in a six-county service area that encompasses Allen, Johnson, and Wyandotte counties in Kansas, and Cass, Jackson, and Lafayette counties in Missouri, as well as Kansas City, Missouri.
