WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today launched a new webpage offering resources for North Dakota individuals, families, and small businesses to sign up for or change health insurance as health care open enrollment starts and lasts through December 15.

Click here to view the new webpage.

Heitkamp’s effort to provide more information for North Dakotans comes after the administration announced it drastically cut federal funds for navigators who help provide in-person assistance to families signing up for coverage. In North Dakota, some navigators had their federal funding cut by over 90 percent. Additionally, the administration cut the length of open enrollment this year so it’s a month and a half shorter than in previous years, reinforcing why it’s so important that North Dakotans understand how to sign up for or change health insurance plans.

“Health care open enrollment has started, and I encourage North Dakotans to use the resources on my new webpage to help answer their questions, sign up for coverage, or search for different plans,” said Heitkamp. “This year, the time frame to enroll in health insurance is a month and a half shorter with fewer federal resources available to assist folks. That’s why I’m stepping up to make sure North Dakotans can get the information and assistance they need. Access to affordable, quality health care is a must -- and I’m proud to have worked with a group of Republican and Democratic senators to reach a deal to offer some immediate fixes to make health care more affordable and accessible for North Dakota families. Now Congress needs to pass our bill. I’ve long said there are good parts of the health reform law, and parts that need to be fixed. Our bipartisan deal is an important step, and just as I’ve done over the past several years, I’ll keep offering proposals to help it work better for North Dakotans."

Over the past few months and weeks, Heitkamp met with a group of Republican and Democratic senators led by U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), as well as governors, insurance commissioners, patients, and insurers, to talk about reforms to make the health reform law work better. In mid-October, they announced a bipartisan deal that would help make health care more affordable and accessible for families, and restore federal funding for outreach and enrollment for 2018 and 2019 open enrollment. Last week, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) issued a report stating that the bill would prevent increases in uninsured Americans and reduce the deficit by $4 billion over 10 years.

Over the past four and a half years, Heitkamp has been offering reasonable reforms that should be bipartisan to make the current health reform law work better for North Dakota families. Click here for a summary of the many proposals she has offered since 2013 to make health care more affordable and accessible.

Since 2013, Heitkamp has also met regularly with her health care advisory board – comprised of health care leaders across North Dakota -- to talk with them about health care in the state and improving the health reform law.

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