Spotlight: Making sure young adults are covered
January 15 is the last day of Marketplace open enrollment for 2026.
Members of federally recognized tribes and Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Corporation shareholders can enroll in a Marketplace plan anytime. However, many consumers sign up for, renew, or change their plan during open enrollment.
Young adults under 30 often view health care coverage as a discretionary expense and may not fully appreciate why having coverage matters. Furthermore, they may not realize they have several choices for coverage (PDF, 134 KB, 1 p).
|
|
January 15 is the last day of Marketplace open enrollment for 2026.
|
|
In the time remaining for open enrollment, talk with young adults about the importance of having health care coverage. Additionally, encourage anyone ineligible for coverage through Medicaid or their parent’s health plan to visit HealthCare.gov and sign up for a Marketplace plan.
Also, remind Marketplace plan enrollees to promptly report any life changes (PDF, 270 KB, 2 pp) that might impact their coverage or cost-sharing reductions. Relevant life changes include those that affect:
- Household size (marriage, divorce, having a child)
- Household income
- Tax filing status
- Where one lives or receives mail
|
|
January: Cervical Health Awareness Month
|
|
 |
|
Share this ad in your newsletter or on your website. For more information, please visit the CMS Outreach and Education Resources page.
|
 Post it
|
|
Marketplace plans and Medicaid offer coverage for cancer screenings and other preventive services. Enroll today!
#CMSNativeHealth
|
|
CMS tribal products
Access these online, tribal-specific resources anytime.
|
|
Cervical cancer prevention
January is Cervical Health Awareness Month, and this year, Turquoise Thursday—a national cervical cancer awareness campaign for Native people—is January 15.
The American Indian Cancer Foundation reports that Native women are at elevated risk of developing cervical cancer.
Typically, Pap smears and human papillomavirus (HPV) tests are done during wellness visits to check for abnormal cell changes that might be cancerous or lead to cervical cancer. Help prevent cervical cancer by encouraging women in your community to ask their health care provider which screening test is right for them.
Also, remind people that Marketplace plans and Medicaid offer coverage for both types of cervical cancer screening tests and for vaccination to help prevent HPV infection, a common cause of cervical cancer.
|
|
|
|
NRHA Rural Health Awards
February 23 is the deadline to submit nominations to the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) for this year’s Rural Health Awards.
Either the nominee or nominator must be an NRHA member. Eligible nominees include:
- Health practitioners, researchers, educators, students, and other individuals in the field of rural health
- Community-based groups or organizations that have improved access to health services and information for rural people
- Community, regional, or statewide programs involving at least one health professional or entity that promotes or facilitates the development of rural health delivery systems
Awardees will be honored May 21 at the NRHA 49th Annual Rural Health Conference in San Diego.
|
|
NBCC Foundation rural scholarships
Deadline: January 31
View the NBCC Foundation funding opportunity
The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Foundation is offering scholarships to students enrolled in master’s-level counseling programs.
Five scholarships of $8,000 each will be awarded. Applicants must live in a rural area and commit to serving a rural population for at least two years after graduation.
|
 |
|
RWJ Foundation summer enrichment program
Deadline: February 5
View the RWJ Foundation funding opportunity
The Robert Wood Johnson (RWJ) Foundation invites undergraduate students to apply for the Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP).
Offered at 10 universities, the six-week enrichment program includes housing, meals, a stipend, and travel assistance. Program scholars will receive guidance from current admissions deans, health professionals, students, and SHPEP alumni about how to pursue their profession of interest.
Eligible applicants include enrolled college freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who meet either or both of the following criteria:
- Come from an economically or educationally disadvantaged background
- Have shown an interest in issues that affect underserved populations
|
|
Physicians of Tomorrow scholarship
Deadline: February 9
View the Physicians of Tomorrow funding opportunity
The American Medical Association Foundation is offering a Physicians of Tomorrow scholarship to medical students from populations that are underrepresented in medicine. To be eligible, applicants must be entering their final year of medical school.
|
|
|
|
TeleBehavioral Health Webinar
The Indian Health Service TeleBehavioral Health Center of Excellence is sponsoring the following tele-education webinar for health care team members:
Behavioral Health Integration webinar series, 12 p.m. Eastern
-
January 22 – Integrating Substance Use Treatment into Integrated Care Settings
|
|
Indigenous Wellbeing Conference
February 18–20
Enoch, Alberta, Canada
Register by February 3 for the Indigenous Wellbeing Conference
The theme of this year’s Indigenous Wellbeing Conference is “From Healing to Thriving: Building the Next Generation of Wellbeing.” The event’s list of speakers includes Olympic gold medalist Billy Mills, a member of the Oglala Lakota Tribal Nation in South Dakota. Elders, leaders, educators, program managers, and frontline workers are encouraged to attend.
|
|
Native American Child and Family Conference
March 16–19
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Register by February 13 for the Native American Child and Family Conference’s early bird rate
The Native American Child and Family Conference offers training opportunities to improve and promote services provided by Head Start, Early Head Start, and childcare program staff. This year’s conference theme is “Strong Start, Strong Spirit: Uplifting Our Native Children Through Indigenous Education.”
|
|
Protecting Our Children Conference
March 29–April 1
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and virtual
Register by January 31 for the Protecting Our Children Conference’s early bird rate
The 44th annual Protecting Our Children Conference theme is “Uniting Our Voices for Our Children, Culture, & Communities.” Sponsored by the National Indian Child Welfare Association, the conference is geared toward social service providers, legal professionals, tribal leaders, federal program staff, and advocates for children.
|
|
2026 Tribal Self-Governance Conference
April 7–9
Chandler, Arizona
Register for the Tribal Self-Governance Conference
Federal partners, tribal leaders, tribal officials, and people who work closely with tribal communities are encouraged to attend this year’s Tribal Self-Governance (TSG) Conference. Formerly known as the Self-Governance Communication & Education Tribal Consortium, TSG has officially rebranded.
|
|
|
|
Contact us
Do you have news to share? Send it to CoveringIC@kauffmaninc.com for possible inclusion in an upcoming newsletter. Contact us with other comments or feedback, too.
|
About the newsletter
Covering Indian Country is published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Division of Tribal Affairs to share resources, success stories, and best practices with the people who connect tribal communities to health care coverage.
Download Adobe Reader for the best reading experience with PDF files.
|
|
|
|
