HAP Offers MNsure Services for Seventh Straight Year

MNsure Renews Grant with HAP for Seventh Year in a Row

Hmong American Partnership (HAP) has consistently operated MNsure Navigation services since 2013, connecting more than 90,000 previously uninsured and underinsured immigrants and refugees in the Twin Cities with vital health care.

The State of Minnesota recognized the success of HAP’s outreach services for the seventh year in a row by awarding the organization $230,000 in renewed funding from Minnesota’s Health Insurance Marketplace (MNsure). HAP will use the funds to screen and assist an additional 5,000 individuals and provide outreach and education about MNsure to another 10,000 residents in the Twin Cities.

“HAP’s MNsure Navigators are well known and highly regarded in the community,” said Bao Vang, President and CEO of HAP. “In the past seven years, our Navigators have consistently exceeded enrollment goals – by as much as 435% during 2013-2014, our first year of service! That success is due in part to the bilingual skills of our staff, our educational outreach at culturally relevant events, and our dependable, accessible presence in the community.”

HAP offers walk-in services at its office in Hmong Village and also partners with area schools to extend outreach services to the families of students at the Community School of Excellence, New Millennium Academy, Jackson Elementary in Saint Paul, and North Hennepin Community College.

The majority of individuals HAP serves are members of the Hmong and Karen(ni) communities, both of which have historically experienced higher rates of un-insurance due to income and language barriers. Minnesota’s overall uninsured rate has increased in recent years, climbing from 4.3% in 2015 to 6.3% in 2017, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. And it is estimated that the Hmong community is regularly 5 to 8% above the overall rates of uninsured in the state.

In 2018, HAP Navigators helped 5,506 individuals apply for coverage and screened and/or assisted 9,084 individuals, nearly double the goal set at the start of the year. The organization is on track to help as many clients, or more, by the end of 2019.

Read more about the grant here.

For questions or press inquiries, please contact: 
Damon Guinn, Director of Communications 
Phone: 651-495-1642 
Email: damong@hmong.org