{"id":14291,"date":"2021-07-22T15:00:49","date_gmt":"2021-07-22T19:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/?p=14291"},"modified":"2021-08-03T15:04:04","modified_gmt":"2021-08-03T19:04:04","slug":"health-care-coverage-improves-in-indian-country-amid-toll-of-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/07\/22\/health-care-coverage-improves-in-indian-country-amid-toll-of-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"Health care coverage improves in Indian Country amid toll of COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":" \"Cherokee<\/a>
Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, far left, chats with citizens of the Cherokee Nation during a visit to the tribe’s reservation in Oklahoma on July 1, 2021. Photo: Anadisgoi \/ Cherokee Nation<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n
Health care coverage improves in Indian Country amid toll of COVID-19<\/div>\r\n
Thursday, July 22, 2021<\/div>\r\n
By Acee Agoyo<\/div>\r\n
Indianz.Com<\/div>\r\n

<\/P>\r\nCorrection:
\r\nThe report was issued by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation within the Department of Health and Human Services, not by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as previously stated.

<\/p>An updated copy of the report is available at hhs.gov<\/a>.<\/strong> \r\n

<\/p>\r\nHealth insurance coverage has improved dramatically among American Indians and Alaska Natives, the Biden administration announced in a new report that highlights the disparities still being faced in tribal and urban communities.\r\n

<\/p>\r\nAccording to the Department of Health and Human Services<\/a>, only 28 percent of Native Americans went uninsured as of 2018. While the rate was still the highest among all racial and ethnic groups, it represents huge progress since the Affordable Care Act<\/a> (ACA) became law more than a decade ago.\r\n

<\/p>\r\nIn between 2010 and 2018, in fact, the percentage of American Indians and Alaska Natives who went without health coverage decreased by an impressive 16 points, HHS said in the report<\/a> on Thursday. The Biden administration is citing the figures as it seeks to improve insurance rates even more in the coming years.\r\n

<\/P>\r\n\u201cCMS is committed to working with our tribal partners to ensure American Indians and Alaska Natives have access to the coverage they need,\u201d Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSur<\/a> of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services<\/a> told Indianz.Com.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n\u201cAlthough American Indians and Alaska Natives can enroll year round, the HealthCare.gov Special Enrollment Period<\/a> provides the opportunity to get coverage more quickly and we invite people who need coverage to sign up by August 15,\u201d Brooks-LaSur said in encouraging people in tribal communities to explore their health insurance options.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

If you\u2019re a provider in Indian Country and are not sure who to connect with about your #COVID19<\/a> vaccine allotment or distribution, visit https:\/\/t.co\/75KhKjXtQf<\/a> #CMSNativeHealth<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/y3tj1XScVl<\/a><\/p>— CMSGov (@CMSGov) May 11, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote>