Illinois Dept of Healthcare and Family Services

Illinois Navigator Grant Program provides grant funding to support a robust, statewide Illinois Navigator program as Illinois transitions to a State-based exchange. This funding opportunity targets organizations seeking to assist eligible Illinois residents in enrolling in health coverage options and affordability programs made available through Get Covered Illinois, the official Illinois Marketplace. The State is seeking to award funding to eligible organizations to perform Navigator duties prior to, during, and after the Open Enrollment Period beginning November 1, 2024 and lasting through January 25, 2025.

45 C.F.R. §155.210, 45 C.F.R. §155.215

215 ILCS 122/5-21/5-30

N/A

GCI Navigators will provide in-person assistance to all individuals and small employers seeking to complete an application and enroll in a Qualified Health Plan or other health program for which they are eligible, including Medicaid.

Yes

N/A

Government Organizations; Education Organizations; Public Housing Organizations; Nonprofit Organizations; For-Profit Organizations; Small Businesses; Other;

Legally recognized organizational entities based within Illinois (including local chapters of national organizations). The minimum eligibility requirements for entities responding to this NOFO are consistent with the final regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services on March 27, 2012, April 3, 2013, and May 16, 2024 (45 CFR 155.210 and 45 CFR 155.215). An entity may not apply for a grant until the entity has registered and pre-qualified through the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal.

Individuals who would have difficulty enrolling in coverage without the help of an Illinois Navigator, including (but not limited to) individuals with low literacy, limited English proficiency, low-income individuals, people with disabilities and other hard-to-reach populations.

Project Grants

Healthcare

N/A

"All entities must be qualified to do business with the State of Illinois. To be qualified for a grant award, an entity must: Have a valid DUNS number; Have a current SAM.gov account; Not be on the Federal Excluded Parties List; Be in Good Standing with the Illinois Secretary of State, as applicable; Not be on the Illinois Stop Payment list; Not be on the Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services Provider Sanctions list"

Applications for this funding opportunity must be submitted through AmpliFund. https://il.amplifund.com

Merit Based Review

Merit Based Review

July 5, 2024, 5:00p.m. CST

25 days

Competitive grant appeals are limited to the evaluation process. Evaluation scores may not be protested. Only the evaluation process is subject to appeal. Appeals pursuant To Administrative Code Title 44, Subtitle F, Chapter I, Part 7000, Section 7000.350.

No

N/A

"Grant funds may not be used for institutional, organizational, or community-based overhead costs not directly related to grant objectives; indirect costs; or levies. Additionally, funds received under this grant may not be used for any of the following purposes: • To cover the costs to provide direct health care services to individuals. • To match any other Federal funds. • To provide services, equipment, or support that are the legal responsibility of another party under Federal or State law (such as vocational rehabilitation or education services) or under any civil rights laws. Such legal responsibilities include, but are not limited to, modifications of a workplace or other reasonable accommodations that are a specific obligation of the employer or other party. • To supplant existing State, local, or private funding of infrastructure or services such as staff salaries, etc. • To cover any pre-award costs. • To carry out services that are the responsibility of the Health Insurance Marketplace, such as eligibility determinations and transferring enrollment information for consumers to a QHP, or to carry out any functions already funded through federal Exchange Establishment grants under section 1311(a) of the Affordable Care Act. • To assist consumers residing in a State other than Illinois. Grantees may provide these consumers with basic information about Health Insurance Marketplaces, but should refer them to Navigators or Counselors, the Marketplace Call Center, and other resources within the State where the consumer resides for more in-depth assistance. • To expend funds related to any activity designed to influence the enactment of legislation, appropriations, regulation, administrative action, or Executive order proposed or pending before the Congress or any state government, state legislature or local legislature or legislative body. Grant recipients may lobby at their own expense if they can segregate federal funds from other financial resources used for that purpose. • To cover the cost of food or beverage."

Funded applicants will be required to abide by the grant agreement, submit Periodic Performance Report and Periodic Financial Report, progress reports on a quarterly basis, expenditure reports every two months, and communicate performance data to the State of Illinois on a regular basis. In addition, individual navigators will be required to submit weekly enrollment metrics as determined by Illinois Department of Insurance.

Grantee must comply with the audit requirements listed in Administrative Rule, 44 Illinois Administrative Code 7000.90.

Grantees must retain all records related to the project for no less than three years following completion of the project.

N/A

$6,500,000 for FY25

Funding for the 2025 Illinois Navigator Grant Program will be determined on a county-by-county basis. Funding amounts will be determined based on the number of Illinois Navigators proposed and the associated costs.

Organizations awarded funding through this grant opportunity will be required to provide in-person assistance to eligible individuals seeking to enroll in QHPs (including advanced premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions), Medicaid, and All Kids (Illinois’ Children’s Health Insurance Program).

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

6/5/2024

FY 2025 : $6,500,000