CenterPlace Health has partnered with the Health Planning Council of Southwest Florida, Inc. to certify three of their staff members as Navigators for the Affordable Care Act. Staff members, Ximena Granada, Tracy Green and Fran Polar are Certified Navigators and currently scheduling appointments that are free and open to the public. Granada and Green are both Community Health Workers at CenterPlace Health and Polar is the Marketing and Communications coordinator. The team of three will assist the public with getting registered for affordable health insurance. Both Granada and Polar are bilingual and are fluent in both English and Spanish. The Navigator position was created by the Affordable Care Act to provide helpers for people to enroll in coverage through the health insurance exchange and refer or assist with Medicaid enrollment. Navigators are paid by state and federal grant programs, and they cannot be compensated by the insurance companies. Navigators play a vital role in helping consumers prepare applications to establish eligibility and enroll in coverage through the Marketplaces and potentially qualify for an insurance affordability program.

They also provide outreach and education to raise awareness about the Marketplace and refer consumers to health insurance and consumer assistance programs when necessary. Navigators operate year-round—increasing awareness among the remaining uninsured about the coverage options available to them, helping consumers find affordable coverage that meets their needs, and assisting consumers beyond the enrollment process to ensure they're equipped with the tools and resources needed to utilize and maintain their health coverage all year.

Navigators must complete comprehensive federal Navigator training, criminal background checks, and state training and registration (when applicable), prior to assisting consumers. For further information, call 1-866-547-2793.