Affordable Health Care in Wyoming – Financial Assistance For Individuals and Families
Depending on your income, you may be eligible for financial assistance to lower your monthly insurance premium or out-of-pocket costs. Find out what’s available for you in Wyoming.
Governor Mead has proposed using an 1115 waiver to implement a state-specific version of Medicaid expansion. Hospitals across the state have urged lawmakers to approve the plan and accept federal funding for it.
Open Enrollment Period
The yearly period (November 1 – December 15 each year) when most people can apply for marketplace coverage. Outside of this window, you can only get health insurance through the Marketplace if you experience certain life events or qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
Trained navigators at Enroll Wyoming can help you find the best plan for your needs and budget. They are available by phone, email, and live online chat. You can also find an event near you and meet with a trained navigator in person.
The Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, has had a major impact on health care and insurance in Wyoming. Its key provisions include a requirement that all plans cover a standard set of benefits and prohibit denials of coverage for preexisting conditions. It also allows individuals to purchase health coverage through a marketplace and offers subsidies to lower the cost of monthly premiums. This chart shows how the uninsured population in Wyoming and three of its neighboring states changed between 2013 and 2016 after the ACA was implemented.
Special Enrollment Period
The yearly period (November 1 – January 15) during which people can enroll in or change health insurance plans through the Marketplace. During this time, eligible individuals and families can receive help to lower their monthly insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs through the Marketplace.
Outside of the yearly Open Enrollment Period, Americans can still get ACA-compliant coverage through the Marketplace if they experience certain life events. These include losing other coverage, moving, getting married, having a baby or adopting a child, or having a significant change in estimated household income.
A new special enrollment period is available for households with incomes below 150% of the poverty level. However, this SEP is only available on the exchange and not off-exchange, because these households are eligible for premium subsidies through the marketplace. Marriage also triggers a 60-day special enrollment period, but rules issued in 2017 limit this window somewhat by requiring that at least one partner had coverage before the wedding date.
Enroll Wyoming
Enroll Wyoming is a free, local resource that helps residents navigate the ins and outs of the health insurance marketplace. The program provides expert guidance and strategies to help you choose coverage that best fits your needs. In addition, most people who enroll in a marketplace plan qualify for cost-savings through premium tax credits. This makes the average monthly rate significantly cheaper than other options, even for those with preexisting conditions.
Many low-income residents in Wyoming are eligible for Medicaid through the Marketplace. But the state has rejected the opportunity to expand the program, leaving rural hospitals without enough funding and thousands of low-income residents with no realistic access to coverage.
KFF has estimated that Wyoming would spend an additional $4.2 billion between 2013 and 2022 if the state expanded Medicaid. That figure is almost twice as much as the federal costs for expansion. Despite this, lawmakers have still rejected the option. The upcoming election may provide an opportunity to change this.
Medicaid/CHIP
Many Wyoming residents can afford to purchase affordable health coverage on the Marketplace thanks to federal subsidies. They are eligible for these savings when they apply for a plan during the annual Open Enrollment Period or a Special Enrollment Period. All ACA plans are required to cover 10 essential health benefits. Premiums have increased, but most people can still find a low-cost option. Trained counselors at Enroll Wyoming are available to help.
In late 2019, Governor Mead and a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the Joint Interim Revenue Committee passed a bill to expand Medicaid in the state. However, the measure never came to a vote in the legislature. The state’s current Medicaid program is limited to low-income seniors who require long-term care, children and pregnant women, and very low-income parents. The maximum income limit is 56% of the federal poverty level. This includes a built-in 5% income disregard. The state also has a special program for individuals with preexisting conditions.