In Wyoming, your access to individual health insurance may depend on your health status, but once you have health insurance, it cannot be canceled because you or anyone in your family becomes sick. Individual health insurance is guaranteed renewable, unless the insurance carrier cancels the plan.
Low or moderate household incomes may be eligible for free or subsidized health insurance coverage for all members of the family through a Wyoming sponsored Individual health insurance program. If your children are 18 years old or younger and are considered low income based on Wyoming guidelines, you may be able to purchase individual health insurance through the Wyoming sponsored health insurance plan or receive assistance paying for private health insurance. All states take part in the federally sponsored program that provides health insurance for children or expectant mothers and are considered low income.
If you enroll in the Wyoming Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan and are not HIPAA eligible, you will face a pre-existing condition removal period.
The Wyoming Medicaid Program offers
free or subsidized health coverage for pregnant women, families with children,
elderly, and disabled individuals with very low incomes.If you move away from Wyoming, you may not be able to buy individual health insurance in another Wyoming unless you are HIPAA eligible.
Eligibility for Medicaid in Wyoming is based on your household income. People
with high medical expenses may also qualify for Medicaid.
If your children are 18 years old or
younger, do not have health insurance, and meet other qualifications, you may be
able to buy insurance for them through Wyoming Kid Care (CHIP) program. The
Wyoming Kid Care (CHIP) Program does not enforce a pre-existing condition
exclusion period. The child must be a full time student, if the child is of
school age. Under Wyoming law, newborns and adopted children are automatically covered under the health plan of the parents and are fully insured for the first 31 days, if the plan covers dependents.
If you have had difficulty obtaining affordable individual health insurance because of your health condition, you may also be eligible for a Wyoming sponsored Health Insurance Plan.
If your children are 18 years old or younger, do not have health insurance, and meet other qualifications, you may be able to buy insurance for them through Wyoming Kid Care (CHIP) program. The Wyoming Kid Care (CHIP) Program does not enforce a pre-existing condition exclusion period. The child must be a full time student, if the child is of school age.
If you have lost your health insurance and are receiving benefits from the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program then you may be eligible for a federal income tax credit to help pay for new health coverage. This credit is called the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC).
If you are a retiree aged 55-65 and receiving pension benefits from Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation (PBGC), then you may also be eligible for the HCTC.
Under Wyoming law, newborns, adopted children, and children placed for adoption are automatically covered under the parents’ fully insured health plan for the first 31 days, if the plan covers dependents.
Under Wyoming law, your disabled child can remain covered as a dependent under your health plan into adulthood.
Wyoming offers a high-risk pool to provide insurance for residents of Wyoming with health conditions who are unable to buy private health insurance and for people who are federally eligible. For more information on Wyoming Health Insurance Pool (WHIP) call 1-800-442-2376 or 307-634-1393. There is a 12-month waiting period for all new enrollees. WHIP policies are renewable as long as you pay your premiums, continue to reside in Wyoming, and meet other eligibility requirements.
WHIP does not offer family coverage. Each member of the family who wants to enroll in WHIP must qualify separately.
Individual health plans that apply a pre-existing exclusion period have to give credit for your prior coverage has been continuous with no more than a 90-day lapse.
In Wyoming, pregnancy and genetic information can be considered a pre-existing condition in all individual health insurance policies.
If you have coverage through an employer’s fully insured group health plan or state or local governmental plan in Wyoming, you are guaranteed the right to buy a conversion policy. This is an individual health policy sold by the insurance company that covered your former group.
Medicaid is a program that provides health coverage to some low-income Wyoming residents. Medicaid covers families with children and pregnant women, elderly, and people with disabilities, if state and federal guidelines are met. Legal residents who are not U.S. citizens may be eligible, however their immigration status may be questioned. Medicaid eligibility is based on the household income of the applicant.
The Women’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program is a program which provides breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services to low income, uninsured women who are at risk for developing breast or cervical cancer. In order to be eligible for this program the woman must meet certain age/ risk categories, be a Wyoming resident, uninsured or underinsured, and in need of medical treatment.
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To find out more visit the Wyoming Department of Insurance website is HTTP://WWW.STATE.WY.US
Coverage under your group health plan cannot be denied or
limited, nor can you be required to pay more, because of your health status. All group health plans in Wyoming must limit exclusion of pre-existing conditions.
If you are a small employer buying a group health plan, you cannot be turned down because of the health status, age of employees, or any other factor that might predict the use of health services of those in your group. Coverage under your group health plan (if your employer offers one) cannot be denied or limited, nor can you be required to pay more, because of your health status.
If you have to take leave from your job due to illness, the birth or adoption of a child, or to care for a seriously ill family member, you may be able to keep your Wyoming group health insurance coverage for a limited time, of up to 12 weeks. Your employer must continue your health benefits. However, you will have to continue paying your share of the premium.
Wyoming group health insurance plans cannot apply a pre-existing condition refusal period for pregnancy, newborns, or newly adopted children, children placed for adoption, or genetic information. Increased premiums can be assessed on new groups if employees enrolling have any of the above. Existing groups may have their premiums increased to offset any extraordinary medical expenses the group may incur.
With few exceptions, small employers cannot be turned down for group health insurance in Wyoming. They can also require you to contribute a minimum percentage of your workers premiums.
If you are self-employed and buy your own self-employed health insurance in Wyoming, you are eligible to deduct 100% of the cost of your premium from your federal income tax.
If you lose your Wyoming group health insurance and meet other qualifications, you will be HIPAA
eligible. If so, you can buy an individual health
plan from the Wyoming Health Insurance Pool (WHIP).
If you have to take leave of you job due to illness, the birth or adoption of a child, or to care for a seriously ill family member, you may be able to keep your group health coverage for a limited time.
If you have a legal dependent or disabled child, that dependent or child may remain covered under your fully insured Wyoming group health plan after he or she reaches the age at which dependent coverage is usually terminated for as long as the person remains dependent.
A group health plan can count as pre-existing conditions only those
medical conditions for which you actually received (or were recommended to receive) a diagnosis, treatment or medical advice within the 6 months immediately before you joined the plan.
Group health plans cannot apply a pre-existing condition exclusion period for pregnancy, newborns, newly adopted children, children placed for adoption, or genetic information.
If you are self-employed with no other workers, you are not eligible to buy a group health plan on your own (though you may be able to join another group health plan through a family member).
If you are self-employed and buy your own health insurance, you are eligible to deduct the entire cost of your premium from your federal income tax.
For more information on Wyoming Health Insurance you can visit the Wyoming Department of Insurance website http://insurance.state.wy.us or call (800) 438-5768.
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