With federal funding cuts creating uncertainty for enrollment in Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance, Episcopal Health Foundation is taking action to make sure Texans don’t lose access to trusted help when they need it most.
Earlier this year, the federal government slashed 90% of funding for the CMS Navigator Program. That program supports the community organizations that sit down with families, answer questions, and walk them through the process of signing up for ACA health insurance plans. Now, many of EHF’s longtime enrollment partners are facing budget shortfalls and possible staff reductions just as open enrollment begins on November 1.
To keep navigators in place and outreach going, EHF’s board has approved up to $1 million in grants for organizations that help families with the biggest barriers to care get covered. The grants will be awarded to four organizations: Boat People SOS, Foundation Communities, Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, and Light and Salt Association. The funding will help these groups keep navigators on staff, continue outreach, and be ready to serve families when enrollment opens.
“Signing up for health insurance can be complicated,” said Dr. Ann Barnes, EHF’s president and CEO. “These local organizations make the process easier, especially for families with limited resources. At a time when federal support is disappearing, EHF is making sure that help is still there.”
This action is part of EHF’s broader commitment to remove barriers to health insurance coverage.
A new report from Texas A&M’s Bush School, funded by EHF, underscores just how high the stakes are. The study estimates that if federal ACA subsidies expire in December 2025, as many as 1.45 million Texans could lose their health insurance — with up to 800,000 of them becoming uninsured. In addition, EHF has released an interactive map showing county-level projections of ACA coverage loss and premium changes, helping communities see exactly where the risks are greatest.
“Congress needs to consider changes so Texans don’t lose the gains we’ve made in helping increase access to prevention, chronic disease management, and important screenings,” Barnes says. “This is a moment that shows how connected policy decisions are to people’s everyday health. When coverage becomes unaffordable, families and communities immediately feel the impact.”