-- More Wyomingites see value of health insurance marketplace

-- Changes will affect mental health centers and clients

-- New steps taken to protect consumers

-- Upcoming events

A growing number of Wyoming residents are taking advantage of the health insurance marketplace and tax credits designed to make health plans more affordable. A WyoFile article noted that Wyoming health care can be expensive due to a shortage of providers, but tax credits can greatly lower the monthly cost of insurance premiums.

According to a report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 95% of people using the marketplace in Wyoming received tax credits, and the average monthly market premium totaled $118.

The article also highlighted Enroll Wyoming as a free resource people can utilize to learn more about their options. To connect with one of our skilled navigators, visit enrollwyo.org or call 211.

Changes to the way the Wyoming Legislature is funding community mental health and substance abuse centers have led to some questions and confusion, but the Wyoming Department of Health is executing a plan to implement these changes, and Enroll Wyoming is helping.

The largest of the changes is a move away from a funding model based on a block grant to one based on a fee for service. In order for clients to receive reduced-cost services, they need to be screened for these services. Individual mental health centers as well as Enroll Wyoming are available to perform these screenings. Call Erik Saulness at 307-278-9428 if you have not been screened, yet and need to set up an appointment.

Starting July 1, those who have not been screened will not be eligible for reduced-fee services until they have been screened and approved, which can take a few weeks.

For more information, please consult this list of frequently asked questions or your local behavioral health center.

In response to reports that some insurance agents and brokers had gotten access to private information and switched health coverage without people's knowledge, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that new steps were being taken to protect consumer choices.

If changes have been made without consumer consent, plans can be retroactively restored or canceled, and insurance agents and brokers can have privileges suspended or terminated. CMS has also fixed the security gap that allowed access.  

If you are unsure how to access your marketplace account to double-check your health coverage, free help is available from Enroll Wyoming. To report unauthorized activity, call the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 or 1-855-889-4325.

We regularly update multiple calendars. To find specific Enroll Wyoming events, see our Wyoming 211 calendar. For partner and community events, click here.