health insurance

Staff diminish from 10 to 1 full-time at healthcare access nonprofit as cost surge looms.

Advocates from across the state gathered at the Wyoming State Capitol for Healthy Wyoming Day. Their goal was to push lawmakers on healthcare access and cost – Wyoming’s health insurance coverage gap was a specific focus.

Enhanced subsidies could bring monthly payments down to about $10 for many people. Also, UnitedHealthcare is now the third company offering insurance in the state.

Most of the Mountain West ranks below average when it comes to health insurance coverage and median income, according to recently released Census data.

The entire nation is in a Medicaid renewal process. That means people who are on Medicaid need to re-apply. So far, over 10,000 Wyomingites have not filled out that reapplication so they are automatically being taken off Medicaid.

Since the pandemic started, the federal government stopped states from reviewing Medicaid eligibility. In order to cover potential extra costs, the feds increased federal funding. But a change in federal law means states are returning to renewal plans, which includes waiver programs.

A free clinic has opened in Lander. It will help provide basic healthcare needs for the uninsured population in Fremont County.

From 2022 to 2023, Colorado is seeing the second-highest increases in monthly private health insurance costs – nearly 20% – compared to the national average of less than 4%, according to an analysis by the finance website ValuePenguin. Wyoming and New Mexico also ranked in the top 5 with increases around 15%.

The Wyoming Legislature’s Joint Revenue Committee has voted once more to introduce a bill to the legislative session in January that would approve medicaid expansion.

Cody Regional Health is partnering up with SCL Health out of Billings to create the first Wyoming-owned flight program. The goal is to provide higher quality and lower cost for medical patients in Northern Wyoming.