ACA National Disability Navigator Resource Collaborative - A Resource for Navigators, Enrollment Assisters and Disability Community

The mission of the National Disability Navigator Resource Collaborative (NDNRC) is to provide cross- disability information and support to Navigators and other enrollment specialists thereby ensuring people with disabilities receive accurate information when selecting and enrolling in insurance through the Affordable Care Act Marketplaces.   This collaborative is made possible from a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.  The project will assist the development of cross disability competence in ACA CMS funded navigator programs and assist state-based navigators and enrollment specialists to support people with disabilities as decisions are made concerning appropriate healthcare. An estimated 3.5 million people between 16 and 65 with pre-existing medical conditions or disabilities are currently uninsured.  Persons with disabilities lacking current health insurance face numerous options as key elements of the Affordable Care Act: Medicaid in their state, possible Medicaid buy-in in their state, possible Medicaid expansion in their state, and Exchange-Marketplace insurance coverage. This project has developed disability content materials including a technical assistance guide ("The Guide to Disability for Healthcare Insurance Marketplace Navigators"); a dedicated webiste at www.nationaldisabilitynavigator.org, as well as state specific information and resources.  The project provides on-going TA to navigators and has developed 17 Fact Sheets on topics of interest.  A key strategy of the Collaborative is the National Partner Advisory Board which consists of seven national cross-disability organizations who will provide disability specific content into all the project materials to ensure the disability content is accurate and appropriate.  Data is collected to monitor utilization of NDNRC.