--- title: Strengthening our child Care workforce by supporting access to affordable health insurance description: Child Care Resource & Referral agencies (CCR&Rs) have an opportunity to connect child care providers with affordable health insurance options through the health insurance marketplace. image: https://info.childcareaware.org/hubfs/shutterstock_1906046152_edited.jpeg --- [![Child Care Aware of America Logo](https://info.childcareaware.org/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/usachildcareaware.site-ym.comgraphicslogo-new.png?width=690&height=350&name=usachildcareaware.site-ym.comgraphicslogo-new.png "Child Care Aware of America Logo")](https://www.childcareaware.org/) - [English ](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/strengthening-our-child-care-workforce-by-supporting-access-to-affordable-health-insurance#) - [Español (Spanish) ](https://www.childcareaware.org/?lang=es) - [Child Care Career Center](http://careers.childcareaware.org/) - [Help for Military/DoD Families](https://www.childcareaware.org/fee-assistancerespite/) Search ![CCA Logo/Homepage link](https://info.childcareaware.org/hubfs/ChildCareAware_October2019%20Theme/Images/menu_img.png) ## Blog & News For media requests, please call 703-341-4161 or email [news@usa.childcareaware.org](mailto:news@usa.childcareaware.org). # Strengthening our child Care workforce by supporting access to affordable health insurance November 20, 2024 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![shutterstock_1906046152_edited](https://info.childcareaware.org/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_1906046152_edited.jpeg?width=770&height=368&name=shutterstock_1906046152_edited.jpeg) This open enrollment season (Nov. 1 – Jan. 15), Child Care Resource & Referral agencies (CCR&Rs) have a unique opportunity to connect child care providers with affordable health insurance options through the health insurance marketplace. By sharing key dates, connecting providers with free resources, and promoting open enrollment, CCR&Rs take a strategic approach to supporting a healthier, more resilient child-care workforce—benefiting children, families, and providers. Child Care Aware® of America (CCAoA) knows the critical value of CCR&Rs—they provide information on where to get help paying for child care, provide referrals to local child care providers, and more. [**Take Action Today.**](https://www.cms.gov/marketplace/in-person-assisters/outreach-education/partner-tools-toolkits)  **Spread Awareness of Key Dates: **  - Dec. 15, 2024: Deadline to enroll or change plans for coverage starting Jan. 1, 2025.  - Jan. 15, 2025: Last day to enroll or change plans for coverage starting Feb. 1, 2025.  **Share These Key Messages: **  - Accessible Coverage: Quality health plans are available.   - Low Prices: [Financial help](https://www.healthcare.gov/lower-costs/save-on-monthly-premiums/) is available to most people.   - If you are uninsured, do not have access to insurance through work, currently have HealthCare.gov insurance, or recently lost insurance coverage—now is the time to take advantage of this valuable open enrollment period.   **Resources Available to Support Your Outreach**  The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) offer free tools to make promoting open enrollment easy, including:  - [**Talking Points and FAQs**](https://www.cms.gov/files/document/marketplace-talking-points-faqs.pdf): Ready-to-use messaging.  - [**Navigator Awardees Contact Information**](https://www.cms.gov/files/document/2023-2024-navigator-awardee-summaries.pdf): A list of local navigators across the country who can offer in-person assistance to providers and families.  - [**Find Local Help**](https://localhelp.healthcare.gov/): A website for providers to connect with navigators, agents/brokers, and other enrollment help.  - [**Virtual Event in a Box**](https://www.cms.gov/marketplace/outreach-and-education/virtual-event-in-a-box.pdf): Materials in multiple languages to support open enrollment events.  **Visit the **[**CMS Marketplace Partner Resources Page**](https://www.cms.gov/marketplace/in-person-assisters/outreach-education/partner-tools-toolkits) to access these tools, find shareable social media graphics and outreach messages, and obtain free educational materials that help CCR&Rs effectively promote open enrollment and provide information that child care providers can use to find coverage.   **Why Health Coverage Matters for the Child Care Community**  Access to health insurance helps providers manage health expenses, access preventive care, and have a safety net for unexpected issues. By promoting open enrollment through the Health Insurance Marketplace, CCR&Rs can help more providers find coverage that supports their health and well-being.  In addition to the Marketplace, some individuals and families may qualify for low-cost or free health coverage through the [**Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)**.](https://www.insurekidsnow.gov/) These programs provide essential health benefits to those who qualify based on income. Unlike Marketplace plans, Medicaid and CHIP enrollment is available year-round, offering a vital safety net for children, adults, and families.  **Additional Resources: **  - [**HealthCare.gov**](https://www.healthcare.gov/): Compare health plans and explore financial assistance options to make coverage more affordable.  - [**InsureKidsNow.gov**](https://www.insurekidsnow.gov/): Discover information about Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), offering free or low-cost comprehensive benefits for eligible children and adults year-round.  Topics: [Health & Safety](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/tag/health-safety) ![Crystal Crowell, Early Care & Education Health Specialist](https://info.childcareaware.org/hubfs/IMG_9934.png) ### Written by [Crystal Crowell, Early Care & Education Health Specialist](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/author/crystal-crowell-early-care-education-health-specialist) Previous Post [![Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map early childhood education policies across states](https://info.childcareaware.org/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20%288%29-4.png) ](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/using-geographic-information-system-gis-to-map-early-childhood-education-policies-across-states) [Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map early childhood education policies across states](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/using-geographic-information-system-gis-to-map-early-childhood-education-policies-across-states) Next Post [![Child care and the 2024 Election: How will the political landscape influence what’s next?](https://info.childcareaware.org/hubfs/Blog%20Banner%20.png) ](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/child-care-and-the-2024-election-how-will-the-political-landscape-influence-whats-next) [Child care and the 2024 Election: How will the political landscape influence what’s next?](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/child-care-and-the-2024-election-how-will-the-political-landscape-influence-whats-next) ### Subscribe to Our Blog ### Topics - [Best Practices (61)](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/tag/best-practices) - [Brain Building Tips (7)](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/tag/brain-building-tips) - [Business Operations for CCR&Rs (64)](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/tag/business-operations-for-ccrrs) - [Capacity Building and Partnerships (3)](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/tag/capacity-building-and-partnerships) - [ccaoaleadership2024 (1)](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/tag/ccaoaleadership2024) - [childcarestrong (1)](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/tag/childcarestrong) - [Data & Research (4)](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/tag/data-research) - [emergency preparedness (61)](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/tag/emergency-preparedness) - [En español (4)](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/tag/en-español) - [Events (3)](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/tag/events) - [Family & Community Engagement (33)](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/tag/family-community-engagement) - [Family Stories (6)](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/tag/family-stories) - [Food Insecurities (1)](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/tag/food-insecurities) - [Health & Safety (98)](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/tag/health-safety) - [leadership (3)](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/tag/leadership) - [leadershipinstitute (1)](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/tag/leadershipinstitute) - [military (6)](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/tag/military) - [News (12)](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/tag/news) - [Parenting (18)](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/tag/parenting) - [Policy & Advocacy (88)](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/tag/policy-advocacy) - [pro (1)](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/tag/pro) - [Professional Development (30)](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/tag/professional-development) - [Provider Appreciation Day 2022 (3)](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/tag/provider-appreciation-day-2022) - [Provider Appreciation Day 2023 (2)](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/tag/provider-appreciation-day-2023) - [state of the union (1)](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/tag/state-of-the-union) - [STEAM (1)](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/tag/steam) - [Systems Building (29)](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/tag/systems-building) - [Workforce (11)](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/tag/workforce) [See all](https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/strengthening-our-child-care-workforce-by-supporting-access-to-affordable-health-insurance#) [![Child Care Aware of America logo](https://info.childcareaware.org/hubfs/ChildCareAware_October2019%20Theme/Images/footer_logo.png "Child Care Aware of America logo")](https://www.childcareaware.org/) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.childcareaware.org/about/privacy-policy/) - Copyright 2023 Child Care Aware® of America