Grand Canyon Times

Maria Losoya, a health insurance navigator in southern Arizona, plays a crucial role in assisting uninsured residents of Santa Cruz County. Despite not being a medical professional, she helps community members understand and access health insurance, bridging language barriers and correcting misinformation about coverage. "A lot of people were dying," she said.

Losoya's work is part of the Affordable Care Act's initiative to support marginalized communities through navigators who guide individuals through the enrollment process. Since 2013, these efforts have reduced the number of uninsured Arizonans significantly.

Navigators provide free services and rely on federal funding, which has fluctuated based on presidential administrations. The Biden-Harris administration recently announced a $500 million investment over five years for navigators, with Arizona receiving $3.5 million so far. However, this funding could be at risk if Donald Trump wins the upcoming presidential election. Kaye Pestaina from KFF noted that Trump might reduce or eliminate this funding based on his previous actions against the ACA.

The Asian Pacific Community in Action (APCA) has also felt the impact of funding cuts. Layal Rabat from APCA stated that decreased funding limits their ability to help those in need: "We’re able to serve less people when the funding goes down." APCA's team has been reduced from 17 to just five navigators due to financial constraints.

The future of the ACA is a contentious issue between presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. While Harris supports strengthening the ACA, Trump has criticized it as expensive and suggested alternative plans without clear details.

Despite uncertainties about future funding and potential policy changes, navigators like Liza Merrill remain committed to their mission: "The work is still going to be there... You do it because it’s the right thing to do."

Huynh emphasized her connection with her community: “They trust me because I speak their language.”

Cronkite News originally published this article.