Tampa, Florida – In accordance with the Executive Order issued by President Biden, the Biden Department Administration announced a Special Open Enrollment Period for individuals and families for to enroll in Health Insurance Marketplace coverage.  This Special Open Enrollment is in response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, which has left millions of Americans facing health problems, uncertainty and exceptional circumstances while millions of Americans have experienced new health problems during the pandemic. This new Open Enrollment enrollment period Period will allow individuals and families in states with Marketplaces served by the HealthCare.gov platform to enroll in 2021 health insurance coverage, and this includes Florida.

With job losses continuing to mount amid the COVID-19 resurgence, and millions of people having lost their job-based health insurance since the start of this public health and economic crisis, the Biden Administration has re-opened the ACA Marketplace to give people who need health insurance a new opportunity to get covered. Beginning February 15, 2021 and through May 15, 2021, these Marketplaces will operationalize functionality to make this opportunity available to all Marketplace-eligible consumers who are submitting a new application or updating an existing application. Floridians can enroll in comprehensive, affordable health insurance on with the assistance of a Covering Florida Navigator, by scheduling an appointment via www.CoveringFlorida.org before time runs out.or (877) 813-9115.  Statewide Navigator assistance is free, confidential, and unbiased.

With job losses continuing to mount amid the COVID-19 resurgence, and millions of people having lost their job-based health insurance since the start of this public health and economic crisis, the Biden Administration has opened up the ACA Marketplace to give people who need health insurance a new opportunity to get covered.

“Florida sign-ups led the nation with more than 2.1 million Floridians enrolled in a health insurance plan during the recently concluded open enrollment period,” said Jodi Ray, director of Florida Covering Kids and Families based at the University of South Florida’s College of Public Health. “Floridians now have a new opportunity to enroll in health insurance for 2021, but only for a limited time. This new COVID-19 Open Enrollment Period starts begins on February 15, 2021 and ends on May 15, 2021. Consumers can reach out to us now for appointments through the Covering Florida website or by calling 877-813-9115, or by contacting any of our statewide partners.”
Covering Florida is the statewide consortium of certified Navigator groups partner organizations headed by Ray, with multiple partner organizations located throughout the state.  These include:

·     Big Bend Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) - Serving Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Liberty, Leon, Madison, Taylor, Wakulla and Washington counties. 

·    Covering Central Florida (Primary Care Access Network) – Serving Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties.

·    Epilepsy Florida – Serving Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Palm Beach counties.

·    Family Healthcare Foundation – Serving Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Polk counties

·    Health Planning Council of Northeast Florida – Serving Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, St. Johns, and Volusia counties.

·    Health Planning Council of Southwest Florida – Serving Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Lee, Manatee and Sarasota counties.

·     Suwannee River Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) - Serving Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Marion, Putnam, Suwannee and Union counties.

·    University of South Florida Navigators - Serving the entire State of Florida, to include Brevard, Citrus, Escambia, Hernando, Indian River, Martin, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, St. Lucie, Santa Rosa, Sumter and Walton counties.

Consumers enrolling in a plan on HealthCare.gov are guaranteed to receive comprehensive coverage, with no pre-existing condition exclusions or markups. All plans cover essential benefits, including doctor and hospital visits, prescription drugs, mental health treatment, and maternity care. In addition, consumers receive free preventive care services, such as immunizations and health screenings. Testing and treatment of COVID-19 are considered essential health benefits and are covered by all HealthCare.govHealth Insurance Marketplace plans.

The Federal Health and Human Services Department is committed to ensuring that wewe they deploy every available resource during the Public Health Emergency. This Special Enrollment Period will ensure that more individuals and families have access to quality, affordable health coverage during this unprecedented time," said HHS Acting Secretary Norris Cochran.
“Many people can find good deals on the Marketplace and receive financial assistance to help lower their monthly health insurance costs,” said Ray. “The health insurance landscape can be confusing, but free, local help is available. You can find someone to help you navigate the enrollment process by visiting www.CoveringFlorida.org or call 877-813-9115. Consumers should make an appointment starting now to get the comprehensive health insurance they need.” 

Media Contact: Jody Young  jody_r_young@att.net  561-704-3912

The project described was supported by Funding Opportunity Number NAVCA190357-02-00 from the U.S. Department of
Health & Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The contents provided are solely the responsibility of
​the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of HHS or any of its agencies.
xxx           

The Eighth Open Enrollment Season for the Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace begins on November 1st for 2021 Health Care Coverage
 
The Eighth Open Enrollment Season for the Affordable Care Act Marketplace begins on November 1st, to allow qualified Florida consumers to obtain Health Care Coverage for 2021.
 
This annual opportunity for Floridians will once again be available for six weeks, through December 15, 2020.  Florida Covering Kids & Families at the University of South Florida partners with organizations collectively referred to as the “COVERING FLORIDA” consortium, to provide Navigator services across the state of Florida. The number of Floridians enrolled in the Marketplace each year has consistently exceeded expectations over the past couple of years. Florida still consistently leads all Marketplace states in the United States in enrollments.
 
The 8th annual Open Enrollment season comes against the backdrop of the most challenging year that Floridians have faced in the health care arena.  The Covid-19 pandemic’s health challenges and its ongoing job and wage losses, the related loss of employer-sponsored insurance, and the confusion surrounding the ongoing legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act itself. Additionally, the current chatter involving Health Care Issues being debated during this election season have created a high level of disinformation and confusion about the facts that consumers need to be able to understand in order to successfully obtain coverage for themselves and their families for 2021. 
 
Covering Florida Navigators deliver free outreach and enrollment services to any Floridian that needs to enroll in health care coverage in the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace.  We assist consumers with telephone, in-person, and virtual online enrollment service and provide public education and outreach activities at locations throughout the state.  Our Navigators are trained and certified to help consumers as they shop for their health coverage options through the Marketplace, including completing eligibility and enrollment forms. Covering Florida Navigator services are free to consumers, we provide assistance in all of Florida’s 67 counties, and we offer confidential one-on-one customer service.
 
The pandemic has resulted in a tremendously increased level of need for services, and anyone impacted can find out what their coverage options are now, prior to Open Enrollment.  Also, year-round Special Enrollment continues in order to assist eligible consumers who have lost or reduced income, change in residence or any of a number of other significant life changing circumstances. Please call us today to allow our team of experts help you with the specifics of  your situation.
 
It is important to know that RIGHT NOW there is no change to prevent consumers from obtaining coverage for the 2021 calendar year. So please let us help by calling us today at 877-813-9115 or visit our website www.CoveringFlorida.org to schedule an appointment for Open Enrollment, which starts on November 1st and runs through December 15th for coverage beginning on January 1st, 2021.
 
 
Florida Covering Kids and Families and its consortium partners have been providing Navigator services throughout the state of Florida since the first Open Enrollment period in 2013. The following eight partners comprise the 2020-2021 Covering Florida statewide consortium and are collectively known as "Covering Florida": 

• Big Bend Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) - Serving Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Liberty, Leon, Madison, Taylor, Wakulla and Washington counties.

 

• Covering Central Florida (Primary Care Access Network) – Serving Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties.
  
  
• Epilepsy Florida – Serving Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Palm Beach counties.
  
  
• Family Healthcare Foundation – Serving Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Polk counties
  
  
• Health Planning Council of Northeast Florida – Serving Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, St. Johns, and Volusia counties.

 

• Health Planning Council of Southwest Florida – Serving Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Lee, Manatee and Sarasota counties.
  
  
• Suwannee River Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) - Serving Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Marion, Putnam, Suwannee and Union counties.
  
  
• University of South Florida Navigators - Serving the entire State of Florida, to include Brevard, Citrus, Escambia, Hernando, Indian River, Martin, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, St. Lucie, Santa Rosa, Sumter and Walton counties

 
 
Sharing this information will help alert more Florida residents to the upcoming Open Enrollment Period and ongoing Special Enrollment for Covid-19 impacted consumers and others.  Consumers who are unable to secure insurance through employment owe it to themselves and their families to #GetCovered and insure themselves against potentially life-changing health related emergencies and developments or unexpected financial insecurity from medical bills.  Call or visit Covering Florida today at 877-813-9115 or www.CoveringFlorida.org
 
###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 1, 2020
 
Media Contact: Jody Young | 561-704-3912 | jody_r_young@att.net
 
 
TAMPA, FL- 
 
Jodi Ray, Director of Florida Covering Kids & Families,(FL-CKF), a community and consumer-focused nonprofit initiative of The Chiles Center, based in the College of Public Health at the University of South Florida, announced that her organization has received a $1.6 million dollar award from the US Health and Human Service Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for an eighth year of Affordable Care Act enrollment and outreach programs, for the current project year beginning this fall through August 2021.
 
Florida once again achieved the greatest number of Health Insurance Marketplace enrollments in the United States during last year’s 7th Open Enrollment season, (OE7) exceeding the most recent previous year’s results by nearly 10%, with 1.9 million Floridians  becoming covered under Marketplace plans.
 
The total award this year is a slight increase over last year’s $1.3 million and will allow the consortium to expand its team by welcoming back two new Covering Florida consortium partners offering Navigator support in the Northwest portion of the state.  Covering Florida welcomes back the Big Bend Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) team, covering Washington, Holmes, Jackson, Franklin,  Calhoun,  Liberty,  Gadsden,  Gulf, Leon, Wakulla, Madison,  Jefferson, Bay and  Taylor counties, and the  Suwannee River AHEC, which will provide assistance in Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Marion, Putnam, Suwannee and Union counties.
 
In-person, online and telephonic assistance will allow the Covering Florida consortium to again cover the anticipated high demand for statewide enrollment services during OE8, particularly during the COVID pandemic.  Although we would prefer to have the ability to offer more in-person assistance, as research and experience shows that consumers are twice as likely to successfully enroll having in-person assistance as those who have attempted online without help. In addition, historically underserved communities have relied more on in-person assistance. Any Florida resident impacted by Covid with questions about available coverage should contact our office or local partners for the latest available options in their areas.
 
Open Enrollment begins on November 1st this year and continues until December 15th for those needing coverage beginning January 1st, 2021. The 2021 Open Enrollment window will again be limited this year to six-weeks, beginning November 1 until December 15th, so consumers need to once again be made aware of the early deadline.  
 
Ray stated “Our network of Navigators is recognized nationally for the service they provide to the communities across the state of Florida, for their high-quality work and for the amazing number of consumers who have been helped in gaining coverage for the last several years. Now more than ever, due to the acute needs related to the pandemic, our Navigators make an impactful difference in the lives of Floridians, and rest assured, we will continue our hard work and make best efforts on informing the public and helping them gain the coverage they deserve and access to the healthcare they need. Our services, as always are offered free of charge to Floridians and we need to get that information out to our normal audience as well as the countless residents who have been negatively impacted by the economics of Covid-19.”  

Ray continued, “Our Navigators not only do outreach and sign-ups, but we help consumers update their accounts, resolve data matching issues, understand their coverage options and how to use the coverage, file appeals and exemptions, inform them on the impact of unpaid premiums, and connect them to health care providers and community resources. Because of the decreased resources for outreach and marketing we will need more help from the communities and from the media to make sure the Open Enrollment window and deadlines are widely shared and publicized.” 

 
FL-CKF and its consortium partners have been providing Navigator services throughout the state of Florida since the first Open Enrollment period in 2013. The following partners comprise the 2020-2021 USF statewide consortium and are collectively known as "Covering Florida": 

Health Planning Council of Northeast Florida– Serving Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, St. Johns, and Volusia counties.
Health Planning Council of Southwest Florida– Serving Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Lee, Manatee and Sarasota counties.
Primary Care Access Network– Serving Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties.
Epilepsy Florida – Serving Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Palm Beach counties.
Family Healthcare Foundation – Serving Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Polk counties
Big Bend Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) - Serving Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Liberty, Leon, Madison, Taylor, Wakulla and  Washington counties.
Suwannee River AHEC, - Serving Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Marion, Putnam, Suwannee and Union counties.
University of South Florida Navigators– Serving Brevard, Citrus, Escambia, Hernando, Indian River, Martin, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, St. Lucie,  Santa Rosa, Sumter and Walton counties
 
Covering Florida is frequently called upon as an expert in health insurance coverage and health literacy for its ability to reach out to diverse audiences and educate consumers about health insurance coverage and utilization including options under the Affordable Care Act, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Medicaid. Covering Florida reaches consumers through partner organizations and collaborates with hundreds of organizations, many of which provide direct service to thousands of health care consumers. The organization focuses largely on advocating for and increasing access to care and services via enrollment for individuals with limited English proficiency, individuals with disabilities, populations underserved in the current private health insurance market, and vulnerable populations by employing multi-lingual Navigators, producing brochures in multiple languages, conducting workshops, and providing interviews in various languages.  
 

For free in-person, telephone or virtual Navigator assistance state-wide visit 
http://www.coveringflorida.org/  or  call (877) 813-9115  
### 

The project described was supported by Funding Opportunity Number NAVCA190357-02-00 from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The contents provided are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of HHS or any of its agencies.

Covering Florida has been serving Florida residents through thick and thin over the last seven years by helping consumers navigate the sometimes confusing coverage options for ACA (Obamacare) marketplace health insurance.  We are facing the most severe health crisis of our lifetimes with the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering the expected surge in unemployment numbers in Florida combined with the potential hazard of in-person meetings, Covering Florida Navigators across the state are prepared to assist.
 
If you find yourself being laid off due to business decisions related to the health crisis, the current rules provide a sixty-day eligibility window for you and your family, called a Special Enrollment Period, to sign up for a suitable health coverage plan available in your county.  Please do not wait until the last minute to seek help figuring out which plans are best for your health care needs.  As Information changes Covering Florida will be doing our very best to keep consumers updated through our website and social media outlets.
 
ACA enrollees can get personalized help discussing the often confusing details of health care coverage. Consumers can go to www.CoveringFlorida.org and select the scheduling an appointment button to meet with a trained assister virtually or telephonically. Consumers can also call the Covering Florida marketplace number 877-813-9115 which is available seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
 
Covering Florida has trained navigators who can help consumers review the basics of health insurance, walk them through filling out the online application and explain how federal subsidies for premiums and cost sharing work. Navigators have gone through the federally regulated training and typically provide in-person, telephonic or virtual assistance. Unlike insurance agents and brokers, our navigators have no financial stake in the plans people select and the help a Navigator provides is always free and unbiased.
 
 
Navigators not only help marketplace enrollees renew and change coverage, they also help people enrolling for the first time.  Jodi Ray is the Program Director of Florida Covering Kids & Families at the University of South Florida and manages the statewide Covering Florida program. “We’ve tried to be real creative in our approach in order to reach as many people as possible,” Ray says. “One way we’re trying to provide services is offering virtual and phone appointments to anyone in the state.”
 
“We don’t make a recommendation” for a particular plan, Ray says. “Our job is to make sure you understand enough that you feel confident in the decision you make.”
 
Parents should also be aware that Florida KidCare offers head-to-toe coverage for children from birth through age 18, and applications for coverage can be completed 365 days a year. The program assists the public in applying for coverage in Florida Healthy Kids, Medicaid, MediKids and Children’s Medical Services. You can visit https://www.healthykids.org/kidcare/faq/ for info and to apply or call 1-888-540-KIDS (5437). You can apply using a single application. Many families pay $15 or $20 per month, but most pay nothing at all.  Our Covering Florida navigators should be able to find answers to questions regarding Florida KidCare as well.
 
We wish good health for all Floridians, but in the event of a health care need, its best to know that you can #GetCovered and #StayCovered.   Please follow your local health department, government and CDC websites for updated info on the COVID-19 crisis.
 
###
 

Reprinted from USF Health's College of Public Health News 


January 24, 2020 

The numbers are in and 1.9 million Floridians selected or were re-enrolled in health care plans in 2020 during the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA’s) open enrollment period held from Nov. 1 to Dec. 21.

That’s about a 200,000 increase from last year, despite an 85 percent cut in grant funding, said Jodi Ray, a USF College of Public Health (COPH) instructor II and program director of Florida Covering Kids and Families (FL-CKF).  FL-CKF manages the USF State Navigator Program and nearly a dozen other organizations (collectively referred to as the “Covering Florida” consortium) that provide Navigator services across Florida.

“I’m shocked, but happy,” commented Ray. “Previously we had a marketing budget and all this support to get information about health care coverage out there. But that’s now been cut. And they also cut enrollment assistance. Some states have completely done away with their Navigator Programs—they couldn’t support one on the money they were given. And despite the fact that the number of insured has gone down during this administration, Florida’s enrollment has actually gone up—every single year.”

How was ACA enrollment able to increase when the funding that promoted and facilitated it was cut to the bone?
Key, said Ray, was extending Covering Florida’s reach by teaming with community and government partners.

“We’ve been targeting a lot of vulnerable populations, such as those where English is a second language and those who are re-entering society after jail time,” commented Ray. “We’re also working with the Mexican consulate in Orlando, the Epilepsy Foundation in South Florida, Healthy Start and faith-based and LGBTQ partners—populations that we know are at risk of being uninsured or of not having access to health care. In addition, I work with a lot of elected officials. We’ve really pushed them to use things like social media to get the word out about Covering Florida so their constituents can get the ACA info they need.”

Another factor helping to drive enrollment: offering virtual sign-up sessions.

“We had to look at how we were going to serve the state with so much less in terms of money and personnel,” explained Ray, who noted that the number of state Navigators dwindled from a high of 152 a few years ago to a mere 25 now. “Virtual enrollment has really helped us serve people in an area where we don’t have Navigators on the ground.”

Despite the limitations, Ray said she’s proud of her FL-CKF team’s continued commitment to serving Floridians around the state.
“I’m really impressed with my team and their ability to go with the changes,” said Ray. “I’m so pleased with all that we’ve accomplished and with what we continue to accomplish.”

Story by Donna Campisano, USF College of Public Health

USF Florida Covering Kids & Families (FL-CKF) Navigators to host November 5th event to assist consumers with enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace
Enrollment event open to USF campus and the community; anyone with questions about coverage is welcome.

Tampa, FL (10/14/2019) -- An on-site, free, community outreach and enrollment event to help consumers learn more about their coverage options through the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace will be held 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., November 5, 2019, at the USF Marshall Student Center, 4103 USF Cedar Circle, Tampa, FL 33620.
Navigators from USF Florida Covering Kids & Families (FL-CKF), joined by those from The Family Healthcare Foundation, will be able to assist people with Health Insurance Marketplace enrollment or renewals.  Navigators will offer education about Marketplace insurance, assist individuals and families with coverage choices, and guide those interested in enrolling through the application process.
FL-CKF was awarded a $1.3 million Navigator grant for the 2019-2020 enrollment period. FL-CKF works with 5 consortium partners across the state to help those who want assistance understanding and enrolling in healthcare coverage available through the Health Insurance Marketplace.
The last date to enroll for coverage that begins January 1, 2020 and the final day that 2019 enrollees can change policies before being “auto-reenrolled” in their previous health care coverage plan is December 15, 2019. Enrollment event walk-ins are welcome, but registration is recommended because parking is limited. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call toll-free (877) 813-9115.
Other Important Information:
There will be very limited free parking spaces within Lot 3B off USF Holly Drive. These spaces will be marked off as reserved for this event only. Visitors parking on the USF-Tampa campus are required to purchase a daily parking permit. Parking pay station is located off USF Cedar Drive, Lot 5A. Daily parking for the Marshall Center is located within the Crescent Hill Parking Garage or Lot 3B and 3C off USF Holly Drive. There is also a sheltered Bull Runner Stop USF Cedar Circle, immediately in front of the Marshall Center.
 
 
-USF Health-
USF Health's mission is to envision and implement the future of health. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, the College of Pharmacy, the School of Biomedical Sciences and the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences; and the USF Physician’s Group. The University of South Florida is a Top 50 research university in total research expenditures among both public and private institutions nationwide, according to the National Science Foundation. For more information, visit www.health.usf.edu
-CMS-
The project described was supported by Funding Opportunity Number CMS-CA-NAV-19-001 from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The contents provided are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of HHS or any of its agencies.

As our trained and motivated Navigators at Covering Florida continue to work with clients during the ongoing Special Enrollment period, they are also gearing up for the upcoming seventh Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Period. (OE7)  Our Navigator partners are planning events throughout the state for virtually every day of the week during OE7, doing community outreach, answering questions, and helping existing clients and new clients to solve problems and maintain their financial data.  Covering Florida Navigators are making sure they can do all they can to keep Florida families covered for their health care needs in 2020 and beyond.
 
Our Covering Florida consortium has faced tremendous challenges in recent years in meeting its goals in getting Florida consumers the coverage they needed.  Budget cuts in 2017 and 2018 forced drastic cuts to the teams in our partnerships and individual personnel cuts forced us into more telephone and virtual appointments with consumers and less face-to-face opportunities.
 
The Navigator teams at Covering Florida responded to these challenges by turning them into opportunity.  We built new alliances with activist groups who wanted to make sure healthcare remained affordable and accessible.  Media partners in Florida doubled down to help us get the word out.  A big effort was made to expand our social media outreach and push for earned media to help us tell the story that we had to tell.  Local Navigator groups around Florida worked harder and for longer hours to get the job done with less team members on board. 
 
Throughout it all, our numbers of Floridians enrolled in the Marketplace still exceeded expectations over the past couple of years, and we have not seen a decrease in our amazing results in 2016, 2017 and 2018 final enrollment numbers. Florida still leads all Marketplace states in the United States. 
 
Sharing this article with your circle of influence will also help us supplement our marketing activities and alert more Florida residents to the upcoming Open Enrollment Period. Consumers who are unable to secure insurance through employment or other programs owe it to themselves and their families to #GetCovered and insure themselves against potentially life-changing health related emergencies and developments.  Call or visit Covering Florida today at 877-813-9115 or www.CoveringFlorida.org

​