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'Navigator Grants' Help Montanans Enroll In 'Obamacare'

Three Montana groups are getting more than $600,000 in grants to help people sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

The so-called Navigator grants are for groups that will provide in-person assistance to people shopping for health care coverage on healthcare.gov or through other sources.

Intermountain Planned Parenthood will get $292,000. The Montana-Wyoming Tribal Leaders Council will get $142,000, and Montana Health Network will get $175,000.

This is the second year Intermountain Planned Parenthood received a navigator grant. It offers appointments and walk-in help to people looking for health coverage, as well as a phone hotline and video conferencing.

Montana Health Network also received a navigator grant last year. The organization of rural health care providers will continue to provide assistance in eastern Montana.

The Tribal Leaders Council will offer American Indians help signing up both on Montana’s seven reservations and in urban areas.

The federal health care law requires most Americans to have health coverage or face a tax penalty. The period to sign up for coverage is generally limited. People can start signing up for 2015 coverage on November 15,  and the enrollment period ends February 15.

Eric Whitney is NPR's Mountain West/Great Plains Bureau Chief, and was the former news director for Montana Public Radio.
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