Louisiana Governor Signs Bill Regulating Insurance ‘Navigators’

Louisiana’s “navigator” organizations that get grants to help consumers enroll in insurance under the federal health care law will have to be licensed by the state.

Gov. Bobby Jindal’s office announced June 13 that the governor signed Republican Rep. Kevin Pearson’s bill to require the licensing and registration with Louisiana’s commissioner of insurance.

Navigators are designated by the federal health department. They help walk people through the complex process of buying insurance on the online marketplace. They must complete a training program to be certified with federal officials.

House Bill 764 lets Louisiana’s insurance commissioner add new training requirements up to 30 hours initially and 15 hours each year thereafter. It requires navigator applicants to submit fingerprints and pass a criminal background check.