UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL AWARDED $182,203 GRANT TO HELP ENROLL STATE RESIDENTS IN ACA HEALTH PLANS

University Hospital announced today that it has been awarded $182,203 in state grant funding to help enroll under- and uninsured New Jersey residents in Affordable Care Act (ACA) health plans.

“We are grateful to receive this grant award, which will give us the resources we need to do this important work for the Greater Newark Community,” said Dr. Shereef Elnahal, MD, MBA, University Hospital’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Access to affordable health insurance coverage has never been more important as we battle the COVID-19 pandemic, especially as this public health crisis has disproportionately impacted the uninsured in majority-minority communities.”

The funding will pay for “navigators” to engage in outreach efforts, and provide education and enrollment assistance to residents shopping for health insurance during the ACA open enrollment period from November 1, 2020 to January 31, 2021 and throughout the year. New Jersey was able to double the length of time for open enrollment since creating its own state-based marketplace exchange last year, Get Covered New Jersey. Previously, the federal government had managed the state’s exchange.

University Hospital is one of 11 organizations across New Jersey newly designated by the state to assist with health insurance enrollment. The navigators will be able to assist residents remotely during the COVID-19 public health emergency, aligning efforts and outreach with our community partners prior to the start of open enrollment.