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The Biden administration will provide federal marketplace navigators with $80 million in funding to help people enroll in health coverage during the 2022 open enrollment period, HHS said Wednesday. That's an eightfold increase compared to last year and the largest pot of money ever earmarked for navigators. HHS expects the increase in outreach, education and enrollment assistance to ramp up enrollment in health coverage. "Navigators play a key role in helping us educate consumers about health plan options. Today's announcement builds upon the steps the administration has taken to ensure individuals and families can access quality, affordable health coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic," HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement. (Brady, 4/21)

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra called on Hispanic Americans to sign up for medical insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in order to take advantage of a special enrollment period and low premiums. In a call with reporters Wednesday, Becerra said his department's top priority is "helping the community take advantage of reduced costs on health care." (Bernal, 4/21)

Reps. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) said Tuesday that lowering health care costs should be one of the top priorities as the U.S. emerges from the coronavirus pandemic. Speaking at The Hill’s “Policy Prescription for Cost & Coverage” event, Rochester said she hopes there will be a greater focus on access to care and the cost of assistance. Rochester, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, told The Hill’s Steve Clemons that the pandemic has shown the impact of the Affordable Care Act and “how important having access to that care really is.” (Benbrook, 4/20)

The American Rescue Plan has given Pennsylvania $270 million toward expanding health insurance coverage and also lowering the cost for many people who already have coverage. The help is available to people with coverage through Pennsylvania’s electronic health insurance marketplace, called Pennie. Pennie is Pennsylvania’s new, state-run version of the marketplace that came about as a result of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. (Wenner, 4/21)

Signing up for health insurance can be a confusing headache. At the same time, the need for a financial safety net if someone in your family gets sick is incredibly important. With the ongoing pandemic and economic crunch, the stakes are even higher. Now, during a special enrollment period, the Biden administration is trying to make getting health insurance irresistible — and simpler, too. (Simmons-Duffin, 4/22)