Promoting Access to Health Care: The Role and Effectiveness of Obamacare Navigators

Poster Presentations

Enacted in 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) aims to increase access of health care for individuals in the United States. Because the ACA established marketplaces in each state for the purchase of health care plans, it increased the level of difficulty for individuals to navigate the health care system. This is where the role of the health care navigator becomes a vital aspect of the ACA. Health care navigators are individuals, who are often part of a larger organization, that guide consumers through the process of acquiring health care. Recent actions by the Trump administration have attempted to reduce or even eliminate the navigator program. The goal of this research is to understand the effectiveness of the ACA navigator network in Lancaster County by looking at the ability for those living in the surrounding area to access, comprehend, and make good decisions in the health insurance marketplace. The research seeks to understand the legal framework in place, analyze the role of the health insurance marketplace navigator, and take into account changes in administrative policy from Obama to Trump. Ultimately, this research will show how much of an impact the health insurance marketplace navigator has on ensuring ACA coverage for those living in Lancaster County.