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Wyoming Health Insurance
Having a suitable health insurance is the key to all your financial worries. An illness or injury can easily wreck the financial stability of your family. Therefore, a good evaluation of all future risks and its impact on your finances is requisite. In the U.S., approximately 47 million people are uninsured, among whom a majority of families are threatened by the unexpected medical expenses due to the absence of proper health coverage. For those families who are not covered by their employers’ group plan, there are low-cost state sponsored health insurance programs that provide insurance to the medically-uninsurable individuals.
In 2008, Wyoming was ranked 14th healthiest state to live in according to the United Health Foundation’s Health Rankings. The state was on the 19th and 23rd position in 2007 and 2006 respectively. Wyoming’s healthcare system has shown a remarkable improvement due to strong public funding, low infant mortality rate, low level of air pollution, and less cases of infectious diseases. The state of Wyoming, with more than five hundred thousand people, offers both private-market and public health insurance alternatives. The private-market health insurance consists of various types of health plans including family, Medicare supplemental, short-term, student, group and dental. Additionally, the state and federal government sponsored programs provide low-cost coverage to the uninsurable citizens of Wyoming who meet specific eligibility requirements of age and income.
The Wyoming Insurance Department manages and administers all kinds of insurance sold through private-market health insurers as well as public health coverage programs. However, in spite of the state’s robust health system, approximately 14.2% of the state population is still uninsured. According to the Censor Bureau’s 2007 and 2008 Current Population Survey, roughly 41.3% of Wyoming’s uninsured citizens come under the above 200% FPL category.
Buying health coverage can sometimes be confusing. However, with the guidance of a licensed health insurance agent/broker, you can select a proper health insurance plan with benefits befitting your family’s medical needs.
Individual/Family Health Insurance
Below is the guidelines for applying for and obtaining individual health insurance in the state of Wyoming. These regulations apply to all insurance companies offering individual or family health insurance in Wyoming:
| Medical Underwriting | Yes |
Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion Period | 12 months |
Look Back Period | 6 months |
Look Back Standard | Objective |
Mandatory Benefits | Cancer screening for women including screening of breast and cervical cancer |
Market Rate Restrictions | None |
Guaranteed Issue Options | None |
Small Group Health Insurance
Below is the guidelines for small group health insurance in the state of Wyoming. These regulations apply to all insurance companies offering small group health insurance in Wyoming:
| Small Group Size | 2-50 |
Employee Qualifications | Two employees must work for at least 6 months out of the year, and work 20 hours per week for coverage |
Guaranteed Issue | Yes |
Premium Rating Factors | Rate bands |
Rate Adjustment Factors | 30% |
Look-Back Period | 6 months |
Pre-existing condition exclusionary period | 12 months |
Mandatory Benefits | Same as Individual |
State Cobra Variations for Small Groups
Below are the COBRA guidelines for small groups in the state of Wyoming. For employer groups of more than 20 employees, refer to the federal COBRA guidelines:
| Mini-Cobra Option | Yes |
Eligible Group Sizes | 2-19 |
Extension of Benefits Period - Standard | 12 months |
Extension of Benefits Period - Disabled | 12 months |
Maximum Premium Increase | 102% |
State Legislation Reference | Wyoming Continuation Law |
Additional Notes | Wyoming continuation coverage must be elected within 31-day period. |
State Sponsored Health Insurance Programs
There are several state sponsored health insurance programs in the State of Wyoming to assist those without insurance in obtaining adequate coverage.
High-Risk Pools
Some states offer special state sponsored health insurance plans for qualified persons that are not eligible for individual health insurance due to pre-existing medical conditions. The guidelines for enrollment in these programs vary by state. The high-risk pool in the State of Wyoming is summarized in the chart below:
| Plan Name | Wyoming Health Insurance Pool (WHIP) |
Website | |
Phone Number | 800-442-2376 |
HIPPA Eligibility Required? | Yes |
Available Carriers | Blue Cross Blue Shield |
Pre-Existing Condition Waiting Period | 6 months |
Enrollment Periods | Currently Open to New Enrollment |
Premium Limits | No more than 200% of standard rate |
Lifetime Maximum Benefit | $500,000 / $750,000 |
Special Notes | To be eligible for coverage, the individual should not be eligible for group health insurance, Medicaid health care benefits or Medicare by reason of age. |
Children’s Health Insurance Program
Through shared funding from the federal government, the State of Wyoming provides health insurance for uninsured children that meet certain eligibility guidelines. A summary of this program is outlined in the chart below:
| Program Name | Kid Care CHIP |
Website | |
Phone Number | 877-543-7669 |
Apply Online | Yes |
Age Limits | Under 18 |
Insurance Carrier | Blue Cross Blue Shield |
Length of Coverage | 12 months |
Residency Requirements | Wyoming resident, U.S. citizen, legal immigrant |
Other Eligibility Requirements | To be eligible, children should not be a dependent of an employee of the State of Wyoming; a resident of an institution or have other health insurance within the last 30 days. |
Pre-Existing Condition Exclusions | None |
Cost | There are currently no enrollment costs or monthly premiums for Kid Care CHIP. Families do have to pay co-payments for some services. Some services like check-ups and immunizations are free. Co-payments are capped at $200 per family per benefit year. (Benefit year is July to June of each year) |
Medicaid
Medicaid is a state program partially funded through the federal government. Qualification guidelines, as well as the types of people that are eligible, will vary by state. The chart below provides a summary of the Medicaid programs in the State of Wyoming:
| Governing Agency | Wyoming Department of Health |
Website | |
Phone Number | 877-543-7669, 888-996-8786 |
Residency Requirements | Wyoming resident, U.S. citizen |
Federal Poverty Line Income Limits | Ages 0-5 and pregnant women up to 133% FPL |
Additional Resources
Wyoming Health Care Options Matrix™ Guide
Provided by the Foundation for Health Coverage Education, the guide is a quick reference guide prepared by the non-profit Foundation for Health Coverage Education that outlines Wyoming’s public and private health care choices for individuals and groups with various demographic profiles.
Family Health Insurance Guide by HealthInsuranceFinders.com
The guide created by HealthInsuranceFinders.com provides useful information regarding health insurance coverage such as individual/family health insurance, group health insurance, separate child health insurance and state-sponsored programs that are available for low to middle income families.
Wyoming: At-A-Glance
Provides exclusive health data of Wyoming state. Statehealthfacts.org is a project of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and is designed to provide free, up-to-date, and easy-to-use health data on all 50 states.
