Citizens of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau are legally entitled to medical care in the United States through Medicaid, thanks to the Compact of Free Association (COFA). However, due to frequent rule changes and bureaucratic inconsistencies, adult members of the COFA community have not always been able to access those benefits. These issues were resolved in 2020, when federal legislation clarified the rights of COFA citizens, but the number of COFA residents who actually sign up has remained troublingly small.

Even though COFA citizens have become eligible for Medicaid, these communities and the organizations that serve them often lacked the knowledge and capacity to navigate the complex Medicaid enrollment system. At the same time, and in part because of the lack of access to Medicaid health insurance, COFA citizens in Hawai‘i have disproportionately high rates of chronic disease, poor health, and low life expectancy.

Increasing Medicaid enrollments by COFA citizens will make a significant difference in health outcomes for these marginalized communities. The purpose of the Fund for Health Equity grant program is to increase Medicaid enrollment rates by supporting community organizations who already serve COFA populations to increase their capacity to help COFA citizens through the complex enrollment process.

Minimum online gift is $25.

For questions or additional information, please contact Donor Services at (808) 566-5560 or donorservices@hcf-hawaii.org.