Insurance

Wyoming Public Radio’s Kamila Kudelska went to Cheyenne a day before the House and Senate reconciled their versions of the budget bill to check in with the Wyoming Hospital Association President Eric Boley. He shared how the budget and some bills going through the legislative session may help or hurt Wyoming’s healthcare situation.

Wildfires are a top concern across the region. But certain parts also fall within "hail alley" — the part of the country that sees the most hailstorms. It's driving up insurance costs in unexpected places.

Among Mountain West states, rates vary drastically.

As many homeowners face a growing insurance crisis, state leaders across the region are considering reforms. Two groups have recommendations for them as state legislatures begin convening again.

A consumer advocacy group is asking top insurance companies to adopt a list of nine protections aimed at increased transparency and fairness.

In January, the world watched in horror as fires marched through multiple Los Angeles neighborhoods, leaving behind blocks of smoldering foundations. A recent report tried to calculate how much it would cost to rebuild the structures lost to better withstand the next blaze.

Wyoming lawmakers wonder if more fuel management on ranches will help in the face of high insurance costs.

The Casper-based Friends Foundation recently started a grant program covering a family’s full insurance deductibles. The foundation helps families pay for travel expenses, as patients typically must go to Colorado or Utah for specialist care.

Nationwide, the percentage of household income spent on homeowners insurance premiums nearly doubled between the early 2000s and 2022 – jumping from 1.2% to 2.1%. That’s according to recent analysis by the Insurance Research Council, an industry-supported nonprofit. Their projections suggest it could already be at 2.4 percent.

The 'Big Beautiful Bill' cuts Medicaid spending by $1 trillion over 10 years. Wyoming healthcare stakeholders say as a result, thousands will lose insurance, and hospitals and nursing homes are at a higher risk of closing.