Blumenthal & Colleagues Call on Secretary Kennedy to Undo Drastic Cuts to Critical Health Care Assistance Program

[HARTFORD, CT] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), joined by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), led a group of his Senate colleagues in a letter calling on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to reverse drastic funding cuts to the Affordable Care Act Navigator program, which helps Americans access quality, affordable health insurance coverage, including for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. The nearly 90 percent funding cut threatens to leave millions of Americans without critical assistance to access the insurance they need and would lead to a reduction in health care enrollment. 

“Since its inception, Navigators have become a critical resource for individuals and families, especially those living in rural and underserved areas, by helping them purchase health coverage that meets their needs,” wrote the senators.

“In 2017 and 2018, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) slashed funding for the Navigator program by 84 percent,” continued the senators. “Unsurprisingly, ACA enrollment shrank by more than 2.5 million over the course of the Trump administration. Once Navigator funding was restored in 2021, enrollment rose and reached historic levels for the 2025 plan year.”

“We strongly urge the administration to reconsider this harmful decision and restore full funding to the Navigator program. Cutting these vital resources will only create more barriers for individuals and families seeking coverage, ultimately increasing the number of uninsured Americans,” concluded the senators.

U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-VT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) also co-signed the letter.

Full text of the letter is available here and below.

February 26, 2025

The Honorable Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

Secretary

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

200 Independence Ave SW

Washington, DC 20201

Dear Secretary Kennedy:

We write today to express deep concern over the Trump administration’s recent decision to dramatically cut funding for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Navigator program by nearly 90 percent. This decision threatens to leave millions of Americans without critical assistance in choosing a health care plan, undermining longstanding efforts to enroll every American in quality, affordable health insurance coverage.

Congress created the Navigator grant program to provide consumers with “fair and impartial information and services” related to not just ACA Marketplace coverage, but assistance enrolling in Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) as well. Since its inception, Navigators have become a critical resource for individuals and families, especially those living in rural and underserved areas, by helping them purchase health coverage that meets their needs.

Over the past decade, more than 49 million Americans have obtained health coverage through the Marketplace, and an additional 20 million enrolled in Medicaid expansion coverage last year alone.1,2 Navigators have played a significant role in those gains, working tirelessly to enroll Americans with the highest barriers to care that may otherwise go uninsured.

Every year, millions of Americans turn to professionals – including Navigators – for help purchasing health insurance. They assist enrollees with understanding their coverage options, application requirements and even basic health insurance terminology.3 For the 2025 plan year, 44 Navigator grantees across 28 states offered free assistance to people exploring health coverage options through the Marketplace, Medicaid and CHIP. They provide support in reviewing available plans, assisting with enrollment forms, educating enrollees on premium tax credit eligibility and even utilizing post-enrollment services such as using their coverage to get care.4 Increasingly, Navigators have also spearheaded state and local outreach initiatives, ensuring communities are aware of their coverage options not just during open enrollment but year-round. These campaigns both maximize enrollment and education for hard-to-reach individuals while decreasing the need for federal, nationwide outreach.

Since the first Trump administration, Navigators have needlessly faced attacks for the services they provide. In 2017 and 2018, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) slashed funding for the Navigator program by 84 percent.5 Surveys following the decision to cut Navigator funding documented that consumers seeking coverage through the Marketplace under the Trump administration had a significant unmet need for enrollment help.6 Most commonly, people cited difficulty understanding coverage options or lack of knowledge about enrollment processes as why they chose to seek professional assistance.7 Unsurprisingly, ACA enrollment shrank by more than 2.5 million over the course of the Trump administration.8 Once Navigator funding was restored in 2021, enrollment rose and reached historic levels for the 2025 plan year.9 This administration’s decision to leave consumers without free, impartial assistance will likely lead to many more Americans without quality, affordable insurance.

Navigators ensure that all people—regardless of income, geography, or background—can access quality, affordable health care. We strongly urge the administration to reconsider this harmful decision and restore full funding to the Navigator program. Cutting these vital resources will only create more barriers for individuals and families seeking coverage, ultimately increasing the number of uninsured Americans.

Sincerely,

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